UNPIVOT in SQL

The Unpivot SQL is one of the most useful Operators to convert the Column names into Row values. Or say, Rotating Pivot table to regular table. Let us see how to convert Column names into Row values using Unpivot in SQL Server with example.

The below screenshot shows the data present in our [SQL Unpivot Source] table. Using this data, we will convert Column names (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2013) into Row values

UNPIVOT in SQL Example

In this Unpivot example, we will convert the Column names (2011, 12, 13, and 2014) into Row values using a built-in operator called Unpivot along with SQL IN Operator.

Here, the Product Name column values will remain the same. However, the Order Quantity rearranges a spermatozoon the Order Year.

-- Sql Server UNPIVOT Example
SELECT [Product Name]
      ,[Order Year]
      ,[Order Quantity]
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
UNPIVOT (
          [Order Quantity] FOR [Order Year] 
          IN ([2011],[2012],[2013],[2014]) 
	) AS [UNPIVOT TABLE]

OUTPUT

UNPIVOT Alternatives

If the interviewer is willing to test your coding skills, then you can expect this question in the interviews. Following are some of the alternative approaches to achieve the Unpivot functionality in SQL Server

Using Cross Apply Values as Unpivot alternative

In this example, we are using the Cross apply to unpivot the above-specified table.

-- Sql Server UNPIVOT Alternative Example
SELECT Original.[Product Name] 
      ,Unpivoted.[Order Year]
      ,Unpivoted.[Order Quantity]     
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source] AS Original
CROSS APPLY 
 (
   VALUES 
         ([2011], '2011')
        ,([2012], '2012')
        ,([2013], '2013')
        ,([2014], '2014')
 ) Unpivoted ([Order Year], [Order Quantity] )

OUTPUT

Unpivot alternative Case Statement along with Cross Join

In this example, We are going to use Case Statement along with Cross Join to achieve the SQL Unpivot functionality

SELECT 
   Original.[Product Name],
   Unpivoted.[Order Year],
   [Order Quantity]  = 
       CASE Unpivoted.[Order Year]
          WHEN '2011' THEN Original.[2011]
          WHEN '2012' THEN Original.[2012]
          WHEN '2013' THEN Original.[2013]
          WHEN '2014' THEN Original.[2014]
       END
FROM (
       SELECT [Product Name],[2011],[2012],[2013],[2014]
       FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
     ) AS Original
CROSS JOIN 
  (
    SELECT '2011' UNION ALL
    SELECT '2012' UNION ALL
    SELECT '2013' UNION ALL
    SELECT '2014'
  ) Unpivoted ([Order Year])

OUTPUT

The simplified version of the above mentioned code is:

-- Sql UNPIVOT Alternative Example
SELECT 
   Original.[Product Name],
   Unpivoted.[Order Year],
   [Order Quantity]  = 
       CASE Unpivoted.[Order Year]
          WHEN '2011' THEN Original.[2011]
          WHEN '2012' THEN Original.[2012]
          WHEN '2013' THEN Original.[2013]
          WHEN '2014' THEN Original.[2014]
       END
FROM (
       SELECT [Product Name],[2011],[2012],[2013],[2014]
	   FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
     ) AS Original
CROSS JOIN 
  (
     VALUES ('2011'), ('2012'), ('2013'), ('2014')
  ) Unpivoted ([Order Year])

In this example, we used the Values keyword rather than using the old and traditional Union All

OUTPUT

Union All – Unpivot alternative

In this example, We are going to use Union All as an alternative to Unpivot. It might not be the ideal approach, but you get the point.

SELECT [Product Name], 
       [Order Quantity] = [2011], 
       [Order Year] = '2011' 
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
UNION ALL
SELECT [Product Name], [2012], '2012' 
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
UNION ALL
SELECT [Product Name], [2013], '2013' 
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
UNION ALL
SELECT [Product Name], [2014], '2014' 
FROM [SQL UnPivot Source]
ORDER BY [Product Name]

OUTPUT