# limit

Limit the number of failures that will be returned by a test query. We recommend using this config when working with large datasets and [storing failures in the database](./store_failures.md).

### Specific test

Configure a specific instance of a generic (schema) test:

models/\<filename>.yml

```yaml

models:
  - name: large_table
    columns:
      - name: very_unreliable_column
        data_tests:
          - accepted_values:
              arguments: # available in v1.10.5 and higher. Older versions can set the <argument_name> as the top-level property.
                values: ["a", "b", "c"]
              config:
                limit: 1000  # will only include the first 1000 failures
```

### One-off test

Configure a one-off (data) test:

tests/\<filename>.sql

```sql
{{ config(limit = 1000) }}

select ...
```

### Generic test block

Set the default for all instances of a generic (schema) test, by setting the config inside its test block (definition):

macros/\<filename>.sql

```sql
{% test <testname>(model, column_name) %}

{{ config(limit = 500) }}

select ...

{% endtest %}
```

### Project level

Set the default for all tests in a package or project:

dbt\_project.yml

```yaml
data_tests:
  +limit: 1000  # all tests
  
  <package_name>:
    +limit: 50 # tests in <package_name>
```

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