---
title: experimental.distinct() function
description: experimental.distinct() returns unique values from the _value column.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/flux/v0/stdlib/experimental/distinct/
estimated_tokens: 711
product: Flux
version: v0
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/flux/v0/stdlib/experimental/distinct/
date: '2024-04-08T16:01:02-06:00'
lastmod: '2024-04-08T16:01:02-06:00'
---

* Flux 0.112.0+

InfluxDB support

> [!Important]
> `experimental.distinct()` is [subject to change at any time](/flux/v0/stdlib/experimental/#experimental-packages-are-subject-to-change).

`experimental.distinct()` returns unique values from the `_value` column.

The `_value` of each output record is set to a distinct value in the specified column.`null` is considered a distinct value.

`experimental.distinct()` drops all columns **not** in the group key and
drops empty tables.

##### Function type signature

```js
(<-tables: stream[{A with _value: B}]) => stream[{A with _value: B}]
```

For more information, see [Function type signatures](/flux/v0/function-type-signatures/).

## Parameters

### tables

Input data. Default is piped-forward data (`<-`).

## Examples

### Return distinct values from each input table

```js
import "experimental"
import "sampledata"

sampledata.int(includeNull: true)
    |> experimental.distinct()
```

[](#view-example-input-and-output)

View example input and output

#### Input data

|       \_time       |\_value|\*tag|
|--------------------|-------|-----|
|2021-01-01T00:00:00Z|  \-2  | t1  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:10Z|       | t1  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:20Z|   7   | t1  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:30Z|       | t1  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:40Z|       | t1  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:50Z|   4   | t1  |

|       \_time       |\_value|\*tag|
|--------------------|-------|-----|
|2021-01-01T00:00:00Z|       | t2  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:10Z|   4   | t2  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:20Z|  \-3  | t2  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:30Z|  19   | t2  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:40Z|       | t2  |
|2021-01-01T00:00:50Z|   1   | t2  |

#### Output data

|\*tag|\_value|
|-----|-------|
| t1  |  \-2  |
| t1  |       |
| t1  |   7   |
| t1  |   4   |

|\*tag|\_value|
|-----|-------|
| t2  |       |
| t2  |   4   |
| t2  |  \-3  |
| t2  |  19   |
| t2  |   1   |

#### Related

* [distinct() function](/flux/v0/stdlib/universe/distinct/)
* [InfluxQL – DISTINCT()](/influxdb/v1/query_language/functions/#distinct)

[transformations](/flux/v0/tags/transformations/)[selectors](/flux/v0/tags/selectors/)
| _time | _value | *tag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| _time | _value | *tag |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z | -2 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:10Z |  | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:20Z | 7 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:30Z |  | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:40Z |  | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 4 | t1 |

| _time | _value | *tag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| _time | _value | *tag |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z |  | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:10Z | 4 | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:20Z | -3 | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:30Z | 19 | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:40Z |  | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 1 | t2 |

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| *tag | _value |
| t1 | -2 |
| t1 |  |
| t1 | 7 |
| t1 | 4 |

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| *tag | _value |
| t2 |  |
| t2 | 4 |
| t2 | -3 |
| t2 | 19 |
| t2 | 1 |