SQL Joins

An SQL JOIN clause is used to combine rows from two or more tables, based on a common field between them.

The most common type of join is: SQL INNER JOIN (simple join). An SQL INNER JOIN return all rows from multiple tables where the join condition is met.                                                        

 

Different SQL JOINs

Before we continue with examples, we will list the types the different SQL JOINs you can use:

·      INNER JOIN: Returns all rows when there is at least one match in BOTH tables

·      LEFT JOIN: Return all rows from the left table, and the matched rows from the right table

·      RIGHT JOIN: Return all rows from the right table, and the matched rows from the left table

·      FULL JOIN: Return all rows when there is a match in ONE of the tables

SQL INNER JOIN Keyword

The INNER JOIN keyword selects all rows from both tables as long as there is a match between the columns in both tables.

SQL INNER JOIN Syntax

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
INNER JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

or:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

PS! INNER JOIN is the same as JOIN.

Note:The INNER JOIN keyword selects all rows from both tables as long as there is a match between the columns. If there are rows in the "Customers" table that do not have matches in "Orders", these customers will NOT be listed.

                                                                                                                                                          

SQL LEFT JOIN Keyword

The LEFT JOIN keyword returns all rows from the left table (table1), with the matching rows in the right table (table2). The result is NULL in the right side when there is no match.

SQL LEFT JOIN Syntax

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
LEFT JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

or:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
LEFT OUTER JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

PS! In some databases LEFT JOIN is called LEFT OUTER JOIN.

Note:The LEFT JOIN keyword returns all the rows from the left table (Customers), even if there are no matches in the right table (Orders).

SQL RIGHT JOIN Keyword

The RIGHT JOIN keyword returns all rows from the right table (table2), with the matching rows in the left table (table1). The result is NULL in the left side when there is no match.

SQL RIGHT JOIN Syntax

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
RIGHT JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

or:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
RIGHT OUTER JOIN table2                                                                                                  
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

PS! In some databases RIGHT JOIN is called RIGHT OUTER JOIN.

Note:The RIGHT JOIN keyword returns all the rows from the right table (Employees), even if there are no matches in the left table (Orders).

SQL FULL OUTER JOIN Keyword

The FULL OUTER JOIN keyword returns all rows from the left table (table1) and from the right table (table2).

The FULL OUTER JOIN keyword combines the result of both LEFT and RIGHT joins.

SQL FULL OUTER JOIN Syntax

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table1
FULL OUTER JOIN table2
ON table1.column_name=table2.column_name;

Note:The FULL OUTER JOIN keyword returns all the rows from the left table (Customers), and all the rows from the right table (Orders). If there are rows in "Customers" that do not have matches in "Orders", or if there are rows in "Orders" that do not have matches in "Customers", those rows will be listed as well.


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