I just came across a SQL query, specifically against a Postgres database, that uses a function named "distinct". Namely:
select distinct(pattern) as pattern, style, ... etc ...
from styleview
where ... etc ...
Note this is NOT the ordinary DISTINCT qualifier on a SELECT -- at least it's not the normal syntax for the DISTINCT qualifier, note the parentheses. It is apparently using DISTINCT as a function, or maybe this is some special syntax.
Any idea what this means?
I tried playing with it a little and if I write
select distinct(foo)
from bar
I get the same results as
select distinct foo
from bar
When I combine it with other fields in the same select, it's not clear to me exactly what it's doing.
I can't find anything in the Postgres documentation.
Thanks for any help!