Joins in SQL Server 2000 or 2005

Question

Hi.

I am trying to understand how JOINS work on SQL Server 2000 and 2005 SPECIFICALLY.

In general, I understand how inner joins, left joins and right joins work.

However, all the articles that I've read, explain it with examples, but are not specific to any RDBMS. So now I am confused to the different types of joins, which are just synonyms of other joins, and which are actually different.

For e.g., Is LEFT OUTER JOIN the same as LEFT JOIN? Is RIGHT OUTER JOIN the same as RIGHT JOIN?

Does SQL Server support FULL OUTER JOIN, CROSS JOIN? What are the different types of joins, and their synonyms. All these keywords are confusing me.

Answer 1

Duplicate of : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3183669/difference-between-join-and-outer-join-in-mysql

There is no diffrence between Right Join and Right outer Join both are same. i.e Left Join and Left Outer Join both are same.

This will give you clear idea :

Visual Representation of SQL Joins

Answer 2

Yes, SQL Server supports FULL OUTER JOIN and CROSS JOIN.

And yes again, LEFT JOIN is a synonym for LEFT OUTER JOIN. The same applies to RIGHT JOIN.

In addition, FULL JOIN is a also a synonym for FULL OUTER JOIN.

You might be interested in checking out the following article by Jeff Atwood:

• Coding Horror: A Visual Explanation of SQL Joins