> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions.md).

# Common Table Expressions (CTE)

- [Recursive Common Table Expressions Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/recursive-common-table-expressions-overview.md): Process hierarchical data using recursive CTEs. These expressions reference themselves to repeatedly execute a subquery, perfect for traversing tree structures or generating sequences.
- [Non-Recursive Common Table Expressions Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/non-recursive-common-table-expressions-overview.md): Define simple temporary result sets. Non-recursive CTEs act like query-local views, improving readability by allowing you to define and reuse subqueries within a single statement.
- [WITH](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/with.md): Complete WITH clause reference: WITH \[RECURSIVE] AS (SELECT...) syntax, recursive CTE support, CYCLE...RESTRICT cycle detection, and max\_recursive\_iterations.


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