How to get distinct values for non-key column fields in Laravel?

Question

This might be quite easy but have no idea how to.

I have a table that can have repeated values for a particular non-key column field. How do I write a SQL query usin

Answer 1

For those who like me doing same mistake. Here is the elaborated answer Tested in Laravel 5.7

A. Records in DB

UserFile::orderBy('created_at','desc')->get()->toArray();

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2073
            [type] => 'DL'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/12/884/200/300.jpg'
            [created_at] => 2020-08-05 17:16:48
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2074
            [type] => 'PROFILE'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/13/884/200/300.jpg'
            [created_at] => 2020-08-05 17:20:06
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2076
            [type] => 'PROFILE'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/13/884/200/300.jpg'
            [created_at] => 2020-08-05 17:22:01
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38
        )

    [3] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2086
            [type] => 'PROFILE'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/13/884/200/300.jpg'
            [created_at] => 2020-08-05 19:22:41
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38
        )
)

B. Desired Grouped result

UserFile::select('type','url','updated_at)->distinct('type')->get()->toArray();

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [type] => 'DL'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/12/884/200/300.jpg'
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38 
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [type] => 'PROFILE'
            [url] => 'https://i.picsum.photos/13/884/200/300.jpg'
            [updated_at] => 2020-08-06 18:08:38
        )
)

So Pass only those columns in "select()", values of which are same. For example: 'type','url'. You can add more columns provided they have same value like 'updated_at'.

If you try to pass "created_at" or "id" in "select()", then you will get the records same as A. Because they are different for each row in DB.