SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement

This chapter explains the SELECT DISTINCT statement.

SQL SELECT DISTINCT Statement

In a table, you might include duplicate values. This is not a problem, but sometimes you may want to list only the different values (distinct).

Keyword DISTINCT is used to return only a different value.

Grammar:

SELECT DISTINCT column name from table name

Using DISTINCT Keywords

If you want to select all the values from the company column, we need to use the SELECT statement:

SELECT Company from Orders

Orders table:

Company

	OrderNumber
Ibm	3532
W3school	2356
Apple	4698
Sqlkey	6953

Results:

Company
Ibm
W3school
Apple
Sqlkey

Note that in the result set, the Sqlkey is listed two times.

To select only a different value from the company column, we need to use the Select DISTINCT statement:

DISTINCTCompany from Orders

Results:

Company
Ibm
Sqlkey
Apple

Now, in the result set, "Sqlkey" is listed only once.