Per entity: SELECT * FROM (SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY entity_id ORDER BY time_of_insertion DESC) AS rn FROM my_table) t WHERE rn = 1. Single latest overall: SELECT * FROM my_table ORDER BY time_of_insertion DESC LIMIT 1. **Why**: Index time_of_insertion. Use...
This medium-level SQL question appears frequently in data engineering interviews at companies like Fossil Group. While less common, it tests deeper understanding that distinguishes strong candidates. Mastering the underlying concepts (partition, snowflake, sql) will help you answer variations of this question confidently.
Break this problem into components. Identify the core trade-offs involved, then walk the interviewer through your reasoning step by step. Demonstrate awareness of edge cases and production considerations - this is what separates good answers from great ones.
Per entity: SELECT FROM (SELECT , ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY entity_id ORDER BY time_of_insertion DESC) AS rn FROM my_table) t WHERE rn = 1. Single latest overall: SELECT * FROM my_table ORDER BY time_of_insertion DESC LIMIT 1. Why: Index time_of_insertion. Use DISTINCT ON (PostgreSQL) or QUALIFY (Snowflake) where available. Scalability: Consider database-native valid-time for temporal tables.
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Analyze My Answer — FreeAccording to DataEngPrep.tech, this is one of the most frequently asked SQL interview questions, reported at 1 company. DataEngPrep.tech maintains a curated database of 1,863+ real data engineering interview questions across 7 categories, verified by industry professionals.