MySQL JOIN Types Explained

There are several methods for performing multi-table joins in MySQL.

1. INNER JOIN: An inner join only returns data rows that are common between two tables.
2. LEFT JOIN: A left join returns all rows from the left table, as well as matching rows from the right table.
3. RIGHT JOIN: A right join returns all rows from the right table, as well as the rows from the left table that have a match in the right table.
4. FULL JOIN: A full join returns all rows from both the left table and the right table, regardless of whether they match.
5. A CROSS JOIN is a type of join that returns the Cartesian product of two tables, meaning every row from the left table is combined with every row from the right table.
6. Natural Join is a type of join operation that automatically links tables based on columns with the same name, without the need to specify a join condition.
7. UNION: A union query combines the results of two or more SELECT statements into one result set.

Choosing the most appropriate join method based on specific needs and data relationships can improve query efficiency and accuracy.