title: MySQL Select DISTINCT multiple columns based on the uniqueness of one row?
body: <p>I'm trying to understand what this query does exactly:</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT DISTINCT `state`, `state_name` FROM `geo` ORDER BY `state_name` ASC
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>All I'm trying to do is select 2 columns (state and state_name), I want only unique rows that do not have duplicate values for the state field. I don't care if there are duplicate values in the state_name field.</p>
  
  <p>Is my query checking both columns for uniqueness or just state?</p>