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sqlpostgresqlselectdistinct

POSTGRESQL is showing "ERROR: syntax error at or near "DISTINCT"

I tried using DISTINCT keyword after a column name but it is giving syntax error.At the same time writing the same column name after DISTINCT keyword is fetching the result.Can you please tell me why it is so?

image of:DISTINCT keyword after a column name

image of:column name after DISTINCT keyword

Solution

  • DISTINCT is applied to the output results and needs to follow SELECT, you can't call it on an individual column. GROUP BY can give you single column results if that's what you're looking for.

    -- filter all results
SELECT DISTINCT film_id, rental_rate FROM film;

-- filter on rental_rate
SELECT film_id, rental_rate FROM film GROUP BY rental_rate;

-- syntax error
SELECT film_id, DISTINCT(rental_rate) FROM film;