A quick guide to SQL Joins
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SQL joins is your go-to when it comes to combining data from multiple tables in a database. But with different join types, it can get confusing, my goal for this post is to clear your confusion.
So let's take a look at the different joins available.
Inner Join: Returns data only when there's a match in both tables. Think of it as a matchmaker for related info.
Left Join: Keeps all data from the left table (like a customer list) and adds matching data from the right, filling in gaps with nulls. Great for complete customer views.
Right Join: Prioritizes the right table (products perhaps) and includes all its data, attaching any relevant info from the left table (reviews maybe). Useful for product analysis.
Full Join: The inclusive type, including all rows from both tables with nulls for missing matches. Shows the whole picture.
Need a cheat sheet? Here's a table summarizing the joins:
| Join Type | Result Set | Use Case |
| Inner Join | Matching rows only | Retrieving related data |
| Left Join | All rows from the left table matched data from the right (NULLs for non-matches) | Keeping all left table data with related info from the right |
| Right Join | All rows from the right table matched data from the left (NULLs for non-matches) | Keeping all right table data with related info from the left |
| Full Join | All rows from both tables (NULLs for non-matches) | Seeing all data, regardless of matches |
If you have any questions, you can shoot in the comment below.