When working with databases, you may come across developers using both INNER JOIN and JOIN in their SQL queries. This might lead you to wonder what the difference is between these two syntaxes. In this blog post, we will explore the distinction between INNER JOIN and JOIN and discuss why you might choose one over the other.

Let’s start with a quick example to illustrate the syntax:

SELECT *
FROM Table1
INNER JOIN Table2 ON Table1.Col1 = Table2.Col1

And here is the same query using the JOIN syntax:

SELECT *
FROM Table1
JOIN Table2 ON Table1.Col1 = Table2.Col1

So, what is the difference between these two syntaxes? The answer is simple – there is no difference. Both INNER JOIN and JOIN are equal to each other in terms of performance and implementation. JOIN is actually a shorter version of INNER JOIN.

However, when it comes to readability and avoiding confusion, many developers prefer to use INNER JOIN. By explicitly stating “INNER JOIN,” it becomes clear that the intention is to perform an inner join between the two tables. This can help prevent any misunderstandings or ambiguity in the code.

For example, if the original query had used INNER JOIN instead of JOIN, there would have been no confusion in the reader’s mind, and the need for the original question would have been eliminated.

Now, let’s turn the question back to you – which syntax do you prefer when performing an inner join between two tables, INNER JOIN or JOIN? And why? We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.