Adventures in Machine Learning

Mastering SQL Joins: Types Combinations and Best Practices

The world of databases and SQL can seem daunting for beginners, with countless terms and concepts to grasp. One of the most important aspects of SQL, and perhaps one of the most puzzling, is the different types of joins that can be used in SQL queries.

In this article, we aim to demystify this topic and provide you with a clear understanding of how joins work and how they are used.

Types of Joins in SQL

Before diving into the different types of joins, it’s important to understand what a join is in SQL. In short, a join combines data from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

There are several types of joins in SQL, each with its own purpose and usage.

Inner Join

This type of join returns only those records where there is a match between the columns of two tables.

It results in the intersection of the two tables, meaning the returned dataset contains only data that is common between them.

Outer Join

This type of join returns all records from one table and matching records from another table.

When the table being joined doesn’t have a matching record, the output of the join contains NULL values for the columns. There are three types of outer joins: left outer join, right outer join, and full outer join.

Self-Join

This type of join is when a table is joined with itself. This type of join comes in handy, especially when a table contains a foreign key that references the primary key of the same table.

Non-equi Join

This type of join returns records based on an inequality operator (<, >, <=, >=, <>, !=), instead of an equal operator (=). Non-equi joins are generally used when comparing ranges of values from two separate tables.

Recapping Joins in SQL

Let’s recap on some of the most commonly used joins in SQL.

Left Join

A left join returns all records from the left-hand table and records from the right-hand table where there is a match.

When there is no match, the columns from the right-hand table contain NULL values.

Right Join

A right join, on the other hand, returns all records from the right-hand table and records from the left-hand table where there is a match.

When there is no match, the columns from the left-hand table contain NULL values.

What is a Multiple Join in SQL?

A multiple join is when you join three or more tables, either using the same type of join or different types of joins. Multiple joins can be extremely useful for complex queries, where you need data from different tables to be combined in a single dataset.

Example Query with Two Inner Joins

Sometimes you need to join multiple tables together to get the desired data. For example, you might want to create a report that combines data from multiple tables.

In this case, you can use two or more INNER JOINs, as shown in the example below.

SELECT *
FROM orders
INNER JOIN customers
    ON orders.customer_id = customers.customer_id
INNER JOIN products
    ON orders.product_id = products.product_id;

This query joins three tables together. It returns only those records that have a match in all three tables.

If there are any records that do not have a match in any of the tables, they will not be returned.

Mixed Left and Right Join with Inner Join

You can also combine different types of joins as required, depending on the specific data you want to return. For example, a query might be required to find all people who own a colored vehicle or don’t own a vehicle at all.

In such a case, you could use a LEFT JOIN to include all the people who own vehicles, and a RIGHT JOIN to include all the people who don’t have vehicles at all. Then, you can use an INNER JOIN to return only those people that have at least one result.

SELECT *
FROM customers
LEFT JOIN vehicles
    ON customers.customer_id = vehicles.customer_id
    AND vehicles.color = 'blue'
RIGHT JOIN vehicles
    ON customers.customer_id = vehicles.customer_id
    WHERE vehicles.customer_id IS NULL
INNER JOIN orders
    ON customers.customer_id = orders.customer_id;

This query returns only those people who either own a blue-colored vehicle or don’t own any vehicle at all and have placed an order with the company.

Mixed Joins with Full Join

Finally, you can use a full join to return all the records from both tables, including those without a match in the other table. The syntax for a full join is as follows:

SELECT *
FROM customers
FULL JOIN orders
    ON customers.customer_id = orders.customer_id;

This query returns all records from both the customers and orders tables, including any records that do not have a match in the other table. If there are any columns from the customer or orders table that do not have a match in the other table, those columns will be filled with empty values.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SQL joins can seem complicated at first glance, but once you understand the different types of joins, how they work, and how they can be combined, they become a powerful tool in your data analysis arsenal. By using the right join type for the job, you can combine data from multiple tables to create comprehensive reports, analyses, and insights.

SQL joins are a fundamental part of querying data from databases, and as we’ve seen in the previous article, there are several types of joins that are used to combine data from different tables. While the concept of joins is simple to understand, the results of a query can be altered by making minor changes in the join sequence.

In this article, we will delve deeper into understanding join types and discuss their combinations and how they can affect the query results.

Minor Changes in Join Types Can Change Query Results

Making minor changes to the order in which joins are specified in a SQL query can have a significant impact on the results returned by the query. Therefore, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the join types being used and their order.

Even a small change, like switching the order of JOIN clauses, could lead to unwanted results. For example, suppose you need to join three tables, and one of the tables has missing data.

In that case, you may choose to use a LEFT JOIN to retain all records from that table, even if it doesn’t have matching records in the other tables. However, if you don’t specify this join first, you may end up with erroneous results.

Switching the order of the join types could return a different set of records with NULL values, which may not give you the desired outcome. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan the joins and their order to obtain the expected results.

Join Combinations to Pay Attention To

When combining different types of joins in a query, there are a few combinations that require additional attention. Two such significant combinations are INNER JOINs with OUTER JOINs and OUTER JOINs with OUTER JOINs.

INNER JOINs with OUTER JOINs

An INNER JOIN returns only those records that have matching records in both tables, whereas an OUTER JOIN returns all records in one table and matching records in the other table.

When combining these two join types, it’s essential to understand the order of the joins to obtain the desired results. For example, you may want to obtain the details of customers who have placed an order and the details of the order, even if it hasn’t shipped yet.

You can accomplish this by using a LEFT JOIN with the Orders table and an INNER JOIN with the Shipment table.

SELECT customer_name, order_id, shipment_date 
FROM Customers 
LEFT JOIN Orders 
ON Customers.customer_id = Orders.customer_id 
INNER JOIN Shipment 
ON Orders.order_id = Shipment.order_id;

This query returns the customer’s name, order ID, and shipment date, even if the shipment hasn’t been made.

OUTER JOINs with OUTER JOINs

When combining two OUTER JOINs, it’s necessary to use parenthesis to specify the relationship between the joins, or the query may return undesired results.

For instance, suppose you want to list all customers and the products they have ordered, even if they haven’t placed an order yet.

SELECT Customers.customer_name, Products.product_name, Orders.order_date 
FROM Customers 
FULL OUTER JOIN Orders 
ON Customers.customer_id = Orders.customer_id 
FULL OUTER JOIN Products 
ON Orders.product_id = Products.product_id;

This query returns all the customers on the left-hand side, and all the products on the right-hand side, with the matching orders in the middle.

Learning More About SQL

As you continue to learn SQL, it’s essential to go beyond the basics and challenge yourself with more complex queries. There are many online resources that provide comprehensive material and courses in SQL, such as Vertabelo Academy’s SQL Basics course and SQL JOINs course.

These materials offer a structured approach to learn the basics of SQL and then advance to more complex join statements. They provide detailed examples and practice exercises to help you master the concept of joins and query optimization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SQL joins are fundamental tools in combining data from multiple tables and extracting insights from databases. By choosing the right join types, and ordering the join clauses correctly, you can get the desired results from your SQL queries.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced SQL programmer, it’s necessary to keep learning and expanding your knowledge in SQL joins to continue to optimize your queries and get the most value from your data. In conclusion, SQL joins are a powerful tool for combining data from different tables in a database.

However, the order of the join clauses can easily alter the results of the query. It’s crucial to understand the different types of joins and their combinations to obtain the desired results.

Joining INNER JOINs and OUTER JOINs requires special attention, whereas combining OUTER JOINs with OUTER JOINs require parentheses to specify the relationship between the joins. Lastly, continuous learning and further exploration of SQL joins are necessary to use them effectively.

By mastering SQL joins, you can gain powerful insights into data and enhance decision-making capabilities, making it an essential tool for any data-driven organization.

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