🔗 The Order of Data: defaults, performance, determinism & paging

What happens when an SQL query doesn't specify the ORDER BY clause? This article breaks down the consequences of relying on the default sorting behavior across different databases such as Postgres, MySQL, and MongoDB. It illustrates with detailed SQL operations how Postgres defaults to insertion order, while MySQL may sort rows by primary key. It also points out the risks of assuming that the default order will remain consistent after updates or deletions. The author emphasizes that each database's handling of data ordering can affect performance and predictability, making it crucial for developers to be explicit in their ordering strategy.