Mysql DISTINCT not working if I add another column

Question

mysql> select DISTINCT title, id from myadmins;

+------+------------+
| id   | title      |
+------+------------+
|    1 | admin      |
|    2 | stack      |
|           


        

Answer 1

DISTINCT applies to the entire row of data. Since the ID is different on each row, then you will end up with duplicate titles.

If you need the ID, then you could use an aggregate to get the MAX(ID):

select max(id) id,
  title
from yourtable
group by title
order by id

See SQL Fiddle with Demo

Answer 2

You will get distinct (id, title) couples.

The row with id=1 and title=admin is different from the row id=4 and title=admin.

If you want only distinct titles from your table:

select DISTINCT title from myadmins;

+------------+
| title      |
+------------+
| admin      |
| stack      |
| jeff       |
+------------+