Mysql – Problem With DISTINCT!

mysqlsql

Here is my query:

SELECT 
DISTINCT `c`.`user_id`,
`c`.`created_at`,
`c`.`body`,
(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM profiles_comments c2 WHERE c2.user_id = c.user_id AND c2.profile_id = 1) AS `comments_count`,
`u`.`username`,
`u`.`avatar_path` 
FROM `profiles_comments` AS `c` INNER JOIN `users` AS `u` ON u.id = c.user_id 
WHERE (c.profile_id = 1) ORDER BY `u`.`id` DESC;

It works. The problem though is with the DISTINCT word. As I understand it, it should select only one row per c.user_id.

But what I get is even 4-5 rows with the same c.user_id column. Where is the problem?

Best Solution

actually, DISTINCT does not limit itself to 1 column, basically when you say:

SELECT DISTINCT a, b

What you're saying is, "give me the distinct value of a and b combined" .. just like a multi-column UNIQUE index

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
WITH VALUES

Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.

Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6

Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES or not.

How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable and do not Specify SomeCol's value, then it will Default to 0.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol's value as NULL (and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL will be inserted as the Value.

Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.

SQL to find the number of distinct values in a column

You can use the DISTINCT keyword within the COUNT aggregate function:

SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT column_name) AS some_alias FROM table_name

This will count only the distinct values for that column.

Best Solution

Related Solutions

Sql – Add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server

Syntax:

Example:

Notes:

SQL to find the number of distinct values in a column

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