---
title: OFFSET and SOFFSET clauses
description: Use the OFFSET and SOFFSET clauses to paginate points and series.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/offset-and-soffset/
estimated_tokens: 4706
product: InfluxDB OSS v2
version: v2
---

# OFFSET and SOFFSET clauses

This page documents an earlier version of InfluxDB OSS. [InfluxDB 3 Core](/influxdb3/core/) is the latest stable version.

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Use `OFFSET` and `SOFFSET` to paginate [points](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#point) and [series](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#series) returned.

-   [OFFSET clause](#offset-clause)
    -   [Syntax](#syntax)
    -   [Examples](#examples)
-   [The SOFFSET clause](#soffset-clause)
    -   [Syntax](#syntax-1)
    -   [Examples](#examples-1)

## `OFFSET` clause

`OFFSET <N>` paginates `N` [points](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#point) in the query results.

### Syntax

```sql
SELECT_clause FROM_clause [WHERE_clause] [GROUP_BY_clause] [ORDER_BY_clause] LIMIT_clause OFFSET <N> [SLIMIT_clause]
```

`N` specifies the number of points to paginate. The `OFFSET` clause requires a [`LIMIT` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/#limit-clause).

**Note:** InfluxDB returns no results if the `WHERE clause` includes a time range and the `OFFSET clause` would cause InfluxDB to return points with timestamps outside of that time range.

### Examples

[](#paginate-points)

Paginate points

```sql
SELECT "water_level","location" FROM "h2o_feet" LIMIT 3 OFFSET 3
```

Output:

Name: h2o\_feet

| time | water_level | location |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2019-08-17T00:06:00Z | 2.1160000000 | santa_monica |
| 2019-08-17T00:12:00Z | 7.8870000000 | coyote_creek |
| 2019-08-17T00:12:00Z | 2.0280000000 | santa_monica |

The query returns the fourth, fifth, and sixth points from the `h2o_feet` [measurement](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#measurement). If the query did not include `OFFSET 3`, it would return the first, second, and third points from that measurement.

[](#paginate-points-and-include-several-clauses)

Paginate points and include several clauses

```sql
SELECT MEAN("water_level") FROM "h2o_feet" WHERE time >= '2019-08-18T00:00:00Z' AND time <= '2019-08-18T00:42:00Z' GROUP BY *,time(12m) ORDER BY time DESC LIMIT 2 OFFSET 2 SLIMIT 1
```

Output:

name: h2o\_feet  
tags: location=coyote\_creek

| time | mean |
| --- | --- |
| 2019-08-18T00:12:00Z | 8.2725000000 |
| 2019-08-18T00:00:00Z | 8.4615000000 |

In this example:

-   The [`SELECT clause`](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/select/) specifies the InfluxQL [MEAN() function](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/functions/aggregates/#mean).
-   The \[`FROM clause`\] (/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/select/#from-clause) specifies a single measurement.
-   The [`WHERE` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/where/) specifies the time range for the query.
-   The [`GROUP BY` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/group-by/) groups results by all tags (`*`) and into 12-minute intervals.
-   The [`ORDER BY time DESC` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/order-by/#order-by-time-desc) returns results in descending timestamp order.
-   The [`LIMIT 2` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/) limits the number of points returned to two.
-   The `OFFSET 2` clause excludes the first two averages from the query results.
-   The [`SLIMIT 1` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/) limits the number of series returned to one.

Without `OFFSET 2`, the query would return the first two averages of the query results:

Output:

name: h2o\_feet  
tags: location=coyote\_creek

| time | mean |
| --- | --- |
| 2019-08-18T00:36:00Z | 7.8330000000 |
| 2019-08-18T00:24:00Z | 8.0710000000 |

## `SOFFSET` clause

`SOFFSET <N>` paginates `N` [series](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#series) in the query results.

### Syntax

```sql
SELECT_clause FROM_clause [WHERE_clause] GROUP BY *[,time(time_interval)] [ORDER_BY_clause] [LIMIT_clause] [OFFSET_clause] SLIMIT_clause SOFFSET <N>
```

`N` specifies the number of [series](/influxdb/v2/reference/glossary/#series) to paginate. The `SOFFSET` clause requires an \[`SLIMIT` clause\](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/. Using the `SOFFSET` clause without an `SLIMIT` clause can cause [inconsistent query results](https://github.com/influxdata/influxdb/issues/7578). `SLIMIT` queries must include `GROUP BY *`.

**Note:** InfluxDB returns no results if the `SOFFSET` clause paginates through more than the total number of series.

### Examples

[](#paginate-series)

Paginate series

#### Paginate series

```sql
SELECT "water_level" FROM "h2o_feet" GROUP BY * SLIMIT 1 SOFFSET 1
```

Output:

name: h2o\_feet  
tags: location=santa\_monica

| time | water_level |
| --- | --- |
| 2019-08-17T00:00:00Z | 2.0640000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:06:00Z | 2.1160000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:12:00Z | 2.0280000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:18:00Z | 2.1260000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:24:00Z | 2.0410000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:30:00Z | 2.0510000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:36:00Z | 2.0670000000 |
| 2019-08-17T00:42:00Z | 2.0570000000 |

The results above are partial, as the data set is quite large. The query returns data for the series associated with the `h2o_feet` measurement and the `location = santa_monica` tag. Without `SOFFSET 1`, the query returns data for the series associated with the `h2o_feet` measurement and the `location = coyote_creek` tag.

[](#paginate-points-and-include-several-clauses)

Paginate points and include several clauses

#### Paginate series and include all clauses

```sql
SELECT MEAN("water_level") FROM "h2o_feet" WHERE time >= '2019-08-18T00:00:00Z' AND time <= '2019-08-18T00:42:00Z' GROUP BY *,time(12m) ORDER BY time DESC LIMIT 2 OFFSET 2 SLIMIT 1 SOFFSET 1
```

Output:

name: h2o\_feet  
tags: location=santa\_monica

| time | mean |
| --- | --- |
| 2019-08-18T00:12:00Z | 2.3360000000 |
| 2019-08-18T00:00:00Z | 2.3655000000 |

In this example:

-   The [`SELECT` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/select/) specifies an InfluxQL [function](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/functions/).
-   The [`FROM` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/select/#from-clause) specifies a single measurement.
-   The [`WHERE` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/where/) specifies the time range for the query.
-   The [`GROUP BY` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/group-by/) groups results by all tags (`*`) and into 12-minute intervals.
-   The [`ORDER BY time DESC` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/order-by/#order-by-time-desc) returns results in descending timestamp order.
-   The [`LIMIT 2` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/) limits the number of points returned to two.
-   The [`OFFSET 2` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/offset-and-soffset/) excludes the first two averages from the query results.
-   The [`SLIMIT 1` clause](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/limit-and-slimit/) limits the number of series returned to one.
-   The [`SOFFSET 1`](/influxdb/v2/query-data/influxql/explore-data/offset-and-soffset/) clause paginates the series returned.

Without `SOFFSET 1`, the query would return the results for a different series:

Output:

name: h2o\_feet  
tags: location=coyote\_creek

| time | mean |
| --- | --- |
| 2019-08-18T00:12:00Z | 8.2725000000 |
| 2019-08-18T00:00:00Z | 8.4615000000 |