SQL joins
SQL JOIN examples explained
JOINs are among the most important SQL patterns for combining related records from different tables. This guide covers the main join types with clear examples.
Key JOIN patterns
INNER JOIN
Returns only rows that match in both tables, which is the most common relational query pattern.
LEFT JOIN
Returns all rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table, keeping unmatched left rows visible.
RIGHT JOIN
Keeps all rows from the right table and matches those from the left side where possible.
FULL OUTER JOIN
Returns rows from both tables, including unmatched rows from either side.
CROSS JOIN
Combines every row from one table with every row from the other table.
SELF JOIN
Joins a table to itself to compare related rows within the same dataset.
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