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Remove Duplicate 1743100868

The document outlines five methods for removing duplicate values in SQL: using ROW_NUMBER() with CTE, SELF-JOIN, DELETE with EXISTS, creating a backup table and truncating, and the NOT IN with MIN(id) method. It highlights the efficiency of the ROW_NUMBER() method as the best approach for any database size, while also noting the performance considerations of other methods. Each method is briefly explained with its advantages and potential drawbacks.

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Abhishek Gaurav
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34 views8 pages

Remove Duplicate 1743100868

The document outlines five methods for removing duplicate values in SQL: using ROW_NUMBER() with CTE, SELF-JOIN, DELETE with EXISTS, creating a backup table and truncating, and the NOT IN with MIN(id) method. It highlights the efficiency of the ROW_NUMBER() method as the best approach for any database size, while also noting the performance considerations of other methods. Each method is briefly explained with its advantages and potential drawbacks.

Uploaded by

Abhishek Gaurav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Top 5 Ways

to

Remove
Duplicate Values in SQL

Kishan Soni
1. ROW_NUMBER() with CTE

use ROW_NUMBER() to assign a unique number to each record within


the same group (name, age, grade).

The first occurrence of each group gets ROW_NUMBER() = 1, and


duplicates get ROW_NUMBER() > 1.

A CTE (Common Table Expression) stores this result temporarily.

Finally, delete all records where ROW_NUMBER() > 1, keeping only the
first occurrence.

-> This method is fast, scalable, and works well for large datasets!

Kishan Soni
2. Delete Duplicates Using SELF-JOIN

Joins the table with itself to find duplicate records.

Matches records with the same name, age, grade.

Deletes records where id > MIN(id), keeping only the first occurrence.

Kishan Soni
3. DELETE with EXISTS

Checks for duplicates using a correlated subquery.

If a duplicate exists, the outer query deletes the extra record (id >
MIN(id)).

More optimized than a JOIN in some databases because it stops


searching once a match is found.

Kishan Soni
4. Create Backup Table & TRUNCATE

Creates a backup table with only unique records (MIN(id)).

Truncates the original table (fastest way to remove all data)


.
Restores unique records from the backup table.

Drops the temporary backup table after restoration.

Kishan Soni
5. NOT IN with MIN(id) Method

Finds the smallest id (MIN(id)) for each duplicate group (item,


order_date).

Deletes all other duplicate records while keeping the first occurrence.

Simple and effective for smaller datasets.

⚠ Caution: NOT IN can be slower on large datasets. Consider using


JOIN or EXISTS for better performance.

Kishan Soni
Summary & Best Method
1. ROW_NUMBER() with CTE – Uses window functions for precise deletion.

2. Self-Join Approach – Simple & universal, works in all databases.

3. DELETE with EXISTS – Optimized for performance, stops searching after


finding a match.

4. Backup Table & TRUNCATE – Ensures data safety before deletion.

5. NOT IN with MIN(id) – Straightforward but less efficient on large datasets.

🔹 Best Method
ROW_NUMBER() with CTE

→ Works efficiently on any database size!

→ Optimized execution with window functions.

Kishan Soni
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Kishan Soni

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