Re: [SQL] Optimizations - Mailing list pgsql-sql

From Bruce Momjian
Subject Re: [SQL] Optimizations
Date
Msg-id 199812032323.SAA05873@candle.pha.pa.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Optimizations  (Michael Ansley <michael.ansley@intec.co.za>)
List pgsql-sql
> Please would somebody tell me whether or not the optimizer sufficiently optimizes a cross join like this:
>     SELECT *
>     FROM table1 t1, table2, t2
>     WHERE t1.field1 = t2.field4
>
> to
>     SELECT *
>     FROM table1 t1
>     INNER JOIN table2 t2
>     ON t1.field1 = t2.field4

Using this is a sign of an SQL engine with a bad or nonexistant
optimizer.  We have a good optimizer which will properly handle such
queries.

>
> As I understand it, both queries will always return the same results, however, the second query will execute
substantiallyfaster, particularly as the tables involved increase in number of rows.  It seems that most people prefer
thefirst syntax, as it is probably quite simple logically, however, I suspect that the optimizer does not optimize it
absolutely.
> Also, when LEFT, and OUTER JOINs are required, people forget that the JOIN keyword exists, and try to use the same
syntaxas in the first query.  If I wanted all records in table1, and only associated records from table2, then the only
waythat I know of to retrieve this information would be as follows: 
>     SELECT *
>     FROM table1 t1
>     LEFT JOIN table2 t2
>     ON t1.field1 = t2.field4
>
> Would somebody please enlighten me (with regard to the optimizer, as well as alternatives for the last query above).
Isuspect that a lot of people are inadvertently using cross joins, when that is not what they mean to be doing, and are
notimpressed with the speed. 

We don't support outer joins yet.

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