This page is a quick reference checkpoint for DENSE_RANK in IBM DB2: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
DENSE_RANK assigns a ranking number to each row, giving equal values the same rank but without gaps after ties.
Returns the rank of the current row within its partition; tied rows receive the same rank, and the next distinct value receives the immediately following rank (no gaps).
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
Requires ORDER BY in the OLAP specification; assigns consecutive rank values with no gaps for ties.
SELECT DENSE_RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY dept ORDER BY salary) AS dense_rnk FROM employees
If you came here to confirm syntax, you’re done. If you came here to get better at window functions, choose your next step.
DENSE_RANK is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: Ranking Functions
Reading docs is useful. Writing the query correctly under pressure is the skill.
For the authoritative spec, use the vendor docs. This page is the fast “sanity check”.
View IBM DB2 Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.