PostgreSQL function for last inserted ID

Question

In PostgreSQL, how do I get the last id inserted into a table?

In MS SQL there is SCOPE_IDENTITY().

Please do not advise me to use something like this:

Answer 1

You can use RETURNING id after insert query.

INSERT INTO distributors (id, name) VALUES (DEFAULT, 'ALI') RETURNING id;

and result:

 id 
----
  1

In the above example id is auto-increment filed.