Quick Answer
The answer is DISTINCT, the SQL keyword used to eliminate duplicate rows from a query result set. When a SELECT statement returns multiple identical rows—often due to joins or incomplete filtering—DISTINCT filters the output to show only unique combinations of column values, directly addressing the need to remove duplicates. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this keyword tests your understanding of basic data retrieval and result set control, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a user complains about repeated data. A common trap is confusing DISTINCT with GROUP BY, but remember that DISTINCT simply deduplicates rows without aggregation. For a quick memory tip, think of DISTINCT as “different”—it shows only the different, non-duplicate rows in your results.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of database fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user runs a query on a database table and notices that the results contain duplicate rows. Which SQL keyword would eliminate these duplicates?
DISTINCT
DISTINCT ensures the result set contains only unique rows.
GROUP BY
Why wrong: GROUP BY groups rows, but without aggregate functions it may not eliminate duplicates in the way DISTINCT does.
WHERE
Why wrong: WHERE filters rows based on conditions but does not eliminate duplicates.
ORDER BY
Why wrong: ORDER BY sorts the result set but does not remove duplicates.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
DISTINCT
The DISTINCT keyword in SQL is used within a SELECT statement to remove duplicate rows from the result set. When a query returns multiple identical rows, DISTINCT filters them out so that only unique combinations of column values are displayed. This directly addresses the user's requirement to eliminate duplicate rows.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
DISTINCT
Why this is correct
DISTINCT ensures the result set contains only unique rows.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
GROUP BY
Why it's wrong here
GROUP BY groups rows, but without aggregate functions it may not eliminate duplicates in the way DISTINCT does.
WHERE
Why it's wrong here
WHERE filters rows based on conditions but does not eliminate duplicates.
ORDER BY
Why it's wrong here
ORDER BY sorts the result set but does not remove duplicates.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that GROUP BY can eliminate duplicates on its own, but candidates must remember that GROUP BY is for aggregation and can still return duplicate rows if no aggregate function is applied to non-grouped columns.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, DISTINCT works by comparing all selected columns for each row; if every column value matches another row, only one instance is retained. This can be resource-intensive on large datasets because the database engine must sort or hash the result set to identify duplicates. In real-world scenarios, DISTINCT is often used in reporting queries to get unique customer IDs or product names, but overusing it on large tables without proper indexing can degrade performance.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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FAQ
Database Fundamentals — This question tests Database Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: DISTINCT — The DISTINCT keyword in SQL is used within a SELECT statement to remove duplicate rows from the result set. When a query returns multiple identical rows, DISTINCT filters them out so that only unique combinations of column values are displayed. This directly addresses the user's requirement to eliminate duplicate rows.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This FC0-U61 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U61 exam.
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