SQL Distinct statements with query example – Distinct statements in SQL is used to retrieve unique / different records from a column. It can return records from single or multiple columns both.
POINTS:
- Remove the duplicate records from the result set.
- It is used with only SQL SELECT Statement.
- Distinct always retrieves first value from a repeating group (i.e. if multiple records with same data)
- It requires a sort for finding repeating values.
- Distinct can operate on single column or multiple columns.
- Every row obtains unique data for specified set of columns to apply distinct keyword.
SQL Distinct Syntax:
SQL Distinct syntax to get unique data by removing duplicate data from result set. The distinct query we can apply for single column or multiple columns of a table in SQL.
Distinct for Single Column
Syntax
SELECT DISTINCT [column_name] FROM [table_name] [WHERE [condition]];
Example
Query to get unique price from PRICE column from BOOKS table.
Query
SELECT DISTINCT PRICE FROM BOOKS;
The above query results the price column with unique values by removing the duplicate data from result set.
Distinct for Multiple Columns
Syntax:
SELECT DISTINCT [column_name1],[column_name2],…………………….. FROM [TABLE_NAME]
[ WHERE [CONDITION]]