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CTE vs Subquery Decision
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CTE vs Subquery Decision

MediumSQL · PostgreSQL

Problem

When would you use a CTE versus a subquery in SQL?

Answer with a practical comparison and explain the cases where each approach is preferable. Keep the response focused on readability, reuse, and query structure.

Output

  1. A clear explanation of when to choose a CTE
  2. A clear explanation of when to choose a subquery
  3. A brief comparison of trade-offs between the two

Schema

dummy
ColumnTypeDescription
idPKINTPlaceholder primary key
Tablesdummy
Interviewer

Your question is CTE vs Subquery Decision. Start with the requirements and the one table in the Question tab.

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