delete duplicate records in sql server code example

Example 1: sql server delete records that have a single duplicate column

WITH cte AS (
    SELECT 
        contact_id, 
        first_name, 
        last_name, 
        email, 
        ROW_NUMBER() OVER (
            PARTITION BY 
                first_name, 
                last_name, 
                email
            ORDER BY 
                first_name, 
                last_name, 
                email
        ) row_num
     FROM 
        sales.contacts
)
DELETE FROM cte
WHERE row_num > 1;

Example 2: sql delete duplicate rows but keep one

# Step 1: Copy distinct values to temporary table
CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE tmp_user (
    SELECT id, name 
    FROM user
    GROUP BY name
);

# Step 2: Remove all rows from original table
DELETE FROM user;

# Step 3: Remove all rows from original table
INSERT INTO user (SELECT * FROM tmp_user);

# Step 4: Remove temporary table
DROP TABLE tmp_user;