how to retrieve the largest value from a column?

lets say a column using int as datatype

for eg:

the current method i used to retrieve the largest value is by...

select TOP 1 ...from....order by desc

so for eg:
let say the column contains
10
60
40
25
40

i will only retrieve 60. are there any loophole in the above method?Why not try this:

SELECT MAX(<field>) as MaxValue <from <TABLE> where <CLAUSE>|||Originally posted by Bascy
Why not try this:

SELECT MAX(<field>) as MaxValue <from <TABLE> where <CLAUSE>

Thanks. :)|||TOp n gives u the number of rows.
Max gives u the maximum value in the column|||Originally posted by cyrus
TOp n gives u the number of rows.
Max gives u the maximum value in the column

That is not quite correct...

TOP n gives you the first n rows of the resultset, so TOP 1 is the same as MAX as long as the order is on the same field.|||Originally posted by Bascy
That is not quite correct...

TOP n gives you the first n rows of the resultset, so TOP 1 is the same as MAX as long as the order is on the same field.

i am saying the same thing without order by