SQL a numbering column - MySQL

Question

This is a sql newbie question.

Basically, I want an extra column to return with my select statement to number the rows. I'm using mysql.

Eg:

select * from friends

David
Steve
Joe

What is the syntax to get:

1  David
2  Steve
3  Joe

Answer 1

From: http://markmal.blogspot.com/2006/04/oracle-like-rownum-in-mysql.html

SELECT @rownum:=@rownum+1 rownum, t.*FROM (SELECT @rownum:=0) r, mytable t;