MySQL DISTINCT usage

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How to use the distinct keyword in MySQL to eliminate duplicated values in the result list of a select statement.

Tutorial info:

Name:	MySQL DISTINCT usage
Total steps:	1
Category:	MySQL
Date:	2010-11-10
Level:	Beginner
Product:	See complete product
Viewed:	6166

Bookmark MySQL DISTINCT usage

Step 1 - MySQL DISTINCT explained

MySQL DISTINCT usage

In cases you want to eliminate duplicate values in the result list of a SELECT statement you can use the DISTINCT keyword. Simple put the DISTINCT before the column name.

The syntax is:

Code:

SELECT DISTINCT column_name FROM table_name;

Database F1

Let’s see a simple example where we have a list of cars. Every car has an id, brand, type and color but now we just simply list all brands:

Code:

```
SELECT brand FROM car;
```
```
 
```
```
The result is:
```

Audi

Audi

Audi

BMW

BMW

Lexus

Lexus

Database F1

As you can see the brands displayed several times. However what we want is to know how many different brands are in the db. To get this extend the query as follows:

Code:

```
SELECT DISTINCT brand FROM car;
```
```
 
```
```
The result is:
```

Audi

BMW

Lexus

Database F1

What if if you also want to know how many times the different brands occur in the table. To do this we need to use a bit different approach using COUNT() and GROUP BY as you can see in this example:

Code:

SELECT brand, COUNT(brand) FROM car GROUP BY brand;

```
 
```
```
And the result is:
```
```
brand		count(brand)         
```
```
Audi		3                    
```
```
BMW		2                    
```
```
Lexus		2
```

Database F1

Tags: mysql distinct, remove duplicates, group by, unique values, distinct values

MySQL DISTINCT usage - Table of contents
Step 1 - MySQL DISTINCT explained

Database F1

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MySQL DISTINCT usage

Tutorial info:

Bookmark MySQL DISTINCT usage

Step 1 - MySQL DISTINCT explained