Full outer join error - example for SimplySQL

Databases
1

In the Sitepoint book ‘SimplySQL’ we are asked to create two tables consisting of nothing but 1 column of numbers and are then asked to run the query:


SELECT
  a,b
FROM
  A FULL OUTER JOIN B
    ON a=b
;

This is causing the error:

“You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ‘OUTER JOIN B
ON a=b’ at line 4”

Changing the “full” outer join to “left” brings a result. Please can someone explain to me what I’m missing, I’ve tried reading the MySQL documentation and googling for an explanation but I’m at a loss.

P.S. First time in a forum so please give me any necessary feedback regarding etiquette, etc.

2

My apologies, the book clears this up in a later chapter.

"an unfortunate error happens in at least one common database system. In MySQL, which doesn’t support FULL OUTER JOIN despite it being standard SQL, the result is a syntax error…

If your database system does not support the FULL OUTER JOIN syntax, the same results can be obtained by a slightly more complex query called a union."

3

you did great

in hindisght i might have mentioned the mysql whoopsie at the first opportunity, eh

4

Thanks, was a bit nervous about posting.

I’m loving the book, as someone who knew nothing of SQL before reading, it’s approachable and explains the complexities extremely well. I’m excited by the possibilities.

5

thanks for the kind words

a lot of work went into simplifying down those complexities :wink: