Joins and subqueries are both used to query data from different tables and may even share the same query plan, but there are many differences between them. Knowing the differences and when to use either a join or subquery to search data from one or more tables is key to mastering SQL.

All the examples for this lesson are based on Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and the AdventureWorks2012 database. You can get started using these free tools using my Guide Getting Started Using SQL Server.

Joins versus Subqueries

Joins and subqueries are both used to combine data from different tables into a single result. They share many similarities and differences.

Subqueries can be used to return either a scalar (single) value or a row set; whereas, joins are used to return rows.

A common use for a subquery may be to calculate a summary value for use in a query. For instance, we can use a subquery to help us obtain all products that have a greater than average product price.

SELECT ProductID,
       Name,
       ListPrice,
       (SELECT AVG(ListPrice)
          FROM Production.Product) AS AvgListPrice
  FROM Production.Product
 WHERE ListPrice > (SELECT AVG(ListPrice)
  FROM Production.Product)

There are two subqueries in this SELECT statement. The first’s purpose is to display the average list price of all products, the second’s purpose is for filtering out products less than or equal to the average list price.

Here the subquery is returning a single value which is then used to filter out products.

Notice how the subqueries are queries unto themselves. In this example, you could paste the subquery, without the parenthesis, into a query window and run it.

Contrast this with a join whose main purpose is to combine rows from one or more tables based on a match condition. For example, we can use a join display product names and models.

Select Product.Name,
       ProductModel.Name as ModelName
FROM  Production.product
       INNER JOIN Production.ProductModel
       ON Product.ProductModelID = ProductModel.ProductModelID

In this statement, we’re using an INNER JOIN to match rows from both the Product and ProductModel tables. Notice that the column ProductModel.Name is available for use throughout the query.

The combined row set is then available by the select statement for use to display, filter, or group by the columns.

This is different than the subquery. There the subquery returns a result, which is immediately used.

Note that the join is an integral part of the select statement. It cannot stand on its own as a subquery can.

A subquery is used to run a separate query from within the main query. In many cases, the returned value is displayed as a column or used in a filter condition such as where or having clause. When a subquery incorporates a column from the main query, it is said to be correlated. In this way, a sub query is somewhat like a join in that values from two or more tables can be compared.

My article Introduction to Subqueries in the SELECT Statement provides a good explanation of correlated subqueries.

Joins are used in the FROM clause of the WHERE statement; however, you’ll find subqueries used in most clauses such as the:

Though joins and subqueries have many differences, they can be used to solve similar problems. In fact, just because you write a SQL statement as a subquery doesn’t mean the DBMS executes as such.

Let’s look at an example.

Suppose the Sales Manager for Adventure Works wants a detailed listing of all sales orders and the number of order details lines for each order.

Surprisingly, there are two ways to go about solving this. We can use a join or a subquery.

Here are the two statements side by side:

Side-by-Side Comparison of Join and Subquery

Obviously they look different, but did you know they have very similar query plans?

Here is the query plan for a subquery:

Subquery Query Plan

If you look closely, you’ll see there is a Merge Join operation. The subquery is being translated into the same set of operation used for the join. In fact, if you look at the corresponding joins query plan, you’ll see it is very similar. You can get more detail about his in my article what is a query plan.

Subqueries and joins can be confusing, but they don’t have to be that way. I have put together a really great series of videos explaining subqueries and their mysteries. Click the button below to see more!

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