Explain the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN in MySQL.

The Difference Between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN in MySQL

When it comes to working with databases in MySQL, understanding the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN is crucial. The focus keyword for this topic is "INNER JOIN vs LEFT JOIN in MySQL."

INNER JOIN

INNER JOIN in MySQL is used to retrieve the records that have matching values in both tables. This means that only the rows with common values in the specified columns from both tables are returned in the result set.

LEFT JOIN

On the other hand, LEFT JOIN in MySQL retrieves all the records from the left table and the matched records from the right table. If there are no matching records in the right table, NULL values are returned for the columns from the right table.

It is important to note that using INNER JOIN may result in a smaller result set compared to LEFT JOIN, as INNER JOIN only includes matching records, while LEFT JOIN includes all records from the left table.

By understanding the distinction between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN in MySQL, you can effectively retrieve the data you need while optimizing the performance of your database queries.