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Remove Duplicates Keeping Latest

MediumSQL · PostgreSQL00:00
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Your question is Remove Duplicates Keeping Latest. Start with the requirements and the one table on the right.

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Problem

Write a SQL query to remove duplicates while keeping the latest record.

Treat rows with the same email as duplicates. Keep the row with the greatest updated_at; if timestamps tie, keep the row with the greatest contact_id. Rows with a NULL email are considered duplicates of one another.

Output

  1. Return each deleted row with contact_id, email, and updated_at.
  2. Order deleted rows by email ascending with NULL values last, then updated_at descending and contact_id descending.

Schema

customer_contacts
ColumnTypeDescription
contact_idPKINTUnique contact record identifier
emailVARCHAR(255)Contact email address used to identify duplicates
contact_nameVARCHAR(150)Contact display name
updated_atTIMESTAMPTime when the contact record was last updated
Tablescustomer_contacts
Your solutionPostgreSQL
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