This article refers to AdventureWorks2014 of Microsoft.
You can download AdventureWorks2014 DB here.
At the following picture there are 4 ranking functions at MS SQL:
1. Row_number – Numbering each row.
2. Rank – According to example below when postal code change then the function displays the value of row_number at that position.
3. Dense_Rank – According to example below when postal code change then the function increases.
4. NTile – Divide the results into groups, the example shows division to 4 groups.
You can copy and paste the following text into you MS SQL management studio if order to test it:
SELECT p.firstname, p.lastname , Row_number() OVER (ORDER BY a.postalcode) AS “row number” , rank() OVER (ORDER BY a.postalcode) AS rank , dense_rank() OVER (ORDER BY a.postalcode) AS “dense rank” , ntile(4) OVER (ORDER BY a.postalcode) AS quartile , s.salesytd , a.postalcode FROM sales.salesperson AS s INNER JOIN person.person AS p ON s.businessentityid = p.businessentityid INNER JOIN person.address AS a ON a.addressid = p.businessentityid WHERE territoryid IS NOT NULL AND salesytd <> 0;