Sampling
Learn to sample a subset of a table using SQL.
Extracting a small subset of a table is often called sampling. There are various reasons to use sampling, for example:
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Performing estimations on large datasets: When working on large tables, we are sometimes willing to compromise accuracy in favor of speed. By sampling a portion of the table we can produce less accurate results more quickly.
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Producing a training set: When doing data analysis using machine learning models, it is often necessary to train the model on a portion of the data. This portion is known as a training set. The training set can be produced by sampling the table.
Sampling with LIMIT
A simple way to fetch a random portion of a table is combining random
with LIMIT
:
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