LIMIT / TOP
A small sample makes exploration manageable. A meaningful top list also needs a deliberate sort.
Limit the result
SQLite and PostgreSQL support LIMIT after the ordering clause. LIMIT 3 returns at most three rows; it does not necessarily mean the three largest values.
Make top lists deterministic
Sort the business metric descending to put the highest values first. Add a unique tie-breaker such as order_id so tied amounts have a stable order.
TOP and FETCH
SQL Server uses SELECT TOP (3) ... ORDER BY ... . OFFSET/FETCH is another SQL Server option and requires ORDER BY. These forms express similar intentions but their syntax differs.
Pagination
LIMIT 3 OFFSET 3 skips the first three rows. Large offsets can become expensive, and changing data can shift page boundaries. Production paging often uses a stable key instead.