> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://parabola.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Limit rows

> The **Limit rows** step filters data by keeping or removing a certain number of rows in your dataset. You can keep or remove a certain number of rows from the top, bottom, or a random position in your dataset.

## Input/output

In our input data below, we have 100 rows of data.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/parabola-7119dfb0/L9fapZonbiBmjBck/images/rows/limit-rows-input.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=L9fapZonbiBmjBck&q=85&s=e3d36b682f070909c30f9e25b1539805" alt="Input dataset with 100 rows" width="2490" height="1476" data-path="images/rows/limit-rows-input.png" />
</Frame>

By using the **Limit rows** step, we can easily filter the number of rows to keep the top 10 rows out of 100, as seen in our output data below.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/parabola-7119dfb0/L9fapZonbiBmjBck/images/rows/limit-rows-output.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=L9fapZonbiBmjBck&q=85&s=85b13441714461e100621c8272bad9a2" alt="Output dataset trimmed to the top 10 rows" width="2480" height="1470" data-path="images/rows/limit-rows-output.png" />
</Frame>

## Default settings

By default, this step is set to **Keep** the **first 3** rows of data and apply that limit on published runs.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/parabola-7119dfb0/L9fapZonbiBmjBck/images/rows/limit-rows-default-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=L9fapZonbiBmjBck&q=85&s=f4b01b6243d05173af240e5939ed73ac" alt="Limit rows default settings to keep the first three rows on published runs" width="2450" height="1434" data-path="images/rows/limit-rows-default-settings.png" />
</Frame>

## Custom settings

You have the option to switch the "Keep" selection to "Remove" instead. You may also select other options in the "first" dropdown by switching this to the "last" or a "random" set of rows. Lastly, you can change the number of rows to limit your dataset to by clicking on the "3" and typing in your desired amount.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/parabola-7119dfb0/L9fapZonbiBmjBck/images/rows/limit-rows-custom-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=L9fapZonbiBmjBck&q=85&s=8c7ebfecaf5ee88e179bc0993c5974e0" alt="Custom Limit rows settings showing options to keep or remove the first, last, or random rows" width="650" height="598" data-path="images/rows/limit-rows-custom-settings.png" />
</Frame>

### Ignoring the limit set during published runs

Use this setting to only limit rows while you are building in a draft of your flow. After publishing, any run (scheduled runs, manual runs, email/webhook runs) will ignore the limit imposed by this step and all rows will pass through it.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/parabola-7119dfb0/L9fapZonbiBmjBck/images/rows/limit-rows-ignoring-the-limit-set-during-published-runs.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=L9fapZonbiBmjBck&q=85&s=eb9ac770fe1d09aaedf6b857d43b6e31" alt="Setting to ignore the limit during published runs so all rows pass through after publish" width="530" height="552" data-path="images/rows/limit-rows-ignoring-the-limit-set-during-published-runs.png" />
</Frame>

## Related steps

* [Filter rows](/product/transform/filter-rows) — keep rows by condition rather than position.
* [Sort rows](/product/transform/sort-rows) — order rows so the right ones land at the top or bottom before limiting.
* [Remove duplicate](/product/transform/remove-duplicate-rows) — trim repeated rows before limiting the dataset.
* [Add row numbers](/product/transform/insert-row-numbers) — see exact positions before deciding what to keep.