---
title: distinct() function
description: distinct() returns all unique values in a specified column.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/flux/v0/stdlib/universe/distinct/
estimated_tokens: 2490
product: Flux
version: v0
---

# distinct() function

-   Flux 0.7.0+
-   View InfluxDB support

`distinct()` returns all unique values in a specified column.

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

##### Function type signature

```js
(<-tables: stream[A], ?column: string) => stream[B] where A: Record, B: Record
```

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

## Parameters

### column

Column to return unique values from. Default is `_value`.

### tables

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

## Examples

-   [Return distinct values from the \_value column](#return-distinct-values-from-the-_value-column)
-   [Return distinct values from a non-default column](#return-distinct-values-from-a-non-default-column)
-   [Return distinct values from data with null values](#return-distinct-values-from-data-with-null-values)

### Return distinct values from the \_value column

```js
import "sampledata"

sampledata.int()
    |> 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 | 10 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:20Z | 7 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:30Z | 17 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:40Z | 15 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 4 | t1 |

| _time | _value | *tag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z | 19 | 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 | 13 | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 1 | t2 |

#### Output data

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| t1 | -2 |
| t1 | 10 |
| t1 | 7 |
| t1 | 17 |
| t1 | 15 |
| t1 | 4 |

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| t2 | 19 |
| t2 | 4 |
| t2 | -3 |
| t2 | 13 |
| t2 | 1 |

### Return distinct values from a non-default column

```js
import "sampledata"

sampledata.int()
    |> distinct(column: "tag")
```

[](#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 | 10 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:20Z | 7 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:30Z | 17 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:40Z | 15 | t1 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 4 | t1 |

| _time | _value | *tag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z | 19 | 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 | 13 | t2 |
| 2021-01-01T00:00:50Z | 1 | t2 |

#### Output data

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| t1 | t1 |

| *tag | _value |
| --- | --- |
| t2 | t2 |

### Return distinct values from data with null values

```js
import "sampledata"

sampledata.int(includeNull: true)
    |> 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

-   [InfluxQL – DISTINCT()](/influxdb/v1/query_language/functions/#distinct)

[transformations](/flux/v0/tags/transformations/) [selectors](/flux/v0/tags/selectors/)