Why Doesn't SQL Server Support Natural Joins, and What Are the Better Alternatives?

Natural Join in SQL Server: A Lack of Support and a Better Alternative

The natural join operation, which automatically joins tables based on shared column names, is not supported in current Microsoft SQL Server editions. This can pose a challenge for developers who rely on this functionality in other database systems.

Why No Natural Joins?

While the lack of natural join support in SQL Server may seem like a drawback, it's actually a wise decision by Microsoft. Natural joins introduce several potential pitfalls:

• Ambiguity: With natural joins, the engine tries to guess the join criteria based on column names. This can lead to unexpected and erroneous results if there are multiple columns with the same name in the joined tables.
• Hidden Assumptions: Natural joins assume that the shared columns have equivalent meanings in both tables. This is not always the case, and can result in incorrect data retrieval.

Alternatives to Natural Join

Fortunately, there are alternative methods for performing joins in SQL Server that provide greater control and flexibility:

• ON Clause: The ON clause explicitly specifies the criteria for joining tables. This ensures clarity and prevents the engine from making assumptions.
• USING Clause: The USING clause is similar to the ON clause but only lists the shared column names. It provides a more concise syntax than the ON clause.

Related Concepts and Resources

• [Lack of NATURAL JOIN in SQL Server](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1541081/sql-server-lack-of-natural-join-x-join-y-usingfield)
• [Performance Comparison of NATURAL JOIN and SELECT](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/615887/is-natural-join-any-better-than-select-from-where-in-terms-of-performance/)

In conclusion, while natural joins are not directly supported in SQL Server, the alternative methods of joining tables provide greater reliability and clarity. These alternatives offer explicit control over the join criteria, eliminating the potential pitfalls associated with natural joins.

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