Types of Joins in MySQL

When working with databases in MySQL, there are several types of joins that can be used to combine data from multiple tables. The main types of joins in MySQL are:

1. INNER JOIN

An INNER JOIN retrieves rows from both tables that have matching values in the specified columns. It only returns rows where there is a match between the columns being joined.

2. LEFT JOIN (or LEFT OUTER JOIN)

A LEFT JOIN returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table. If there is no match, the result is NULL for the right table.

3. RIGHT JOIN (or RIGHT OUTER JOIN)

A RIGHT JOIN is the opposite of a LEFT JOIN. It returns all rows from the right table and the matched rows from the left table. If there is no match, the result is NULL for the left table.

4. FULL JOIN (or FULL OUTER JOIN)

A FULL JOIN returns rows when there is a match in one of the tables. It combines the results of both LEFT JOIN and RIGHT JOIN. If there is no match, the result is NULL for the missing side.

When selecting the appropriate type of join in MySQL, it's important to consider the relationship between the tables and the desired outcome of the query.