SQL LEFT JOIN — Keep All Left Rows
LEFT JOIN keeps all rows from the left table and joins matching rows from the right; unmatched right columns become NULL. RIGHT JOIN is only supported in SQLite 3.39+.
Open the interactive DevRef Hub tool →Key facts
| Syntax | SELECT u.name, o.total FROM users u LEFT JOIN orders o ON o.user_id = u.id; |
|---|---|
| No match | Right columns become NULL |
| Standard form | LEFT OUTER JOIN |
| RIGHT JOIN | SQLite 3.39+ only |
Frequently asked questions
What does LEFT JOIN do?
It keeps every left-table row, with NULLs where the right has no match.
Is LEFT JOIN the same as LEFT OUTER JOIN?
Yes; OUTER is optional and they are equivalent.
Related pages
SQL LEFT JOIN is part of DevRef Hub on GOAT Lab — a free reference you can use without signing up, and it works offline. Open the tool above for any custom value.
Part of GOAT Lab — 26 free, browser-based science, engineering and developer tools. No sign-up.