Join hints (Transact-SQL)
Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance SQL database in Microsoft Fabric
Join hints specify that the query optimizer enforce a join strategy between two tables in SQL Server. For general information about joins and join syntax, see FROM clause plus JOIN, APPLY, PIVOT.
Caution
Because the SQL Server query optimizer typically selects the best execution plan for a query, we recommend that hints be used only as a last resort by experienced developers and database administrators.
Applies to
Transact-SQL syntax conventions
Syntax
<join_hint> ::=
{ LOOP | HASH | MERGE | REMOTE }
Arguments
{ LOOP | HASH | MERGE }
Specifies that the join in the query should use looping, hashing, or merging. Using LOOP
, HASH
, or MERGE JOIN
enforces a particular join between two tables. LOOP
can't be specified together with RIGHT
or FULL
as a join type. For more information, see Joins.
REMOTE
Specifies that the join operation is performed on the site of the right table. This is useful when the left table is a local table and the right table is a remote table. REMOTE
should be used only when the left table has fewer rows than the right table.
If the right table is local, the join is performed locally. If both tables are remote but from different data sources, REMOTE
causes the join to be performed on the site of the right table. If both tables are remote tables from the same data source, REMOTE
isn't required.
REMOTE
can't be used when one of the values being compared in the join predicate is cast to a different collation using the COLLATE
clause.
REMOTE
can be used only for INNER JOIN
operations.
Remarks
Join hints are specified in the FROM
clause of a query. Join hints enforce a join strategy between two tables. If a join hint is specified for any two tables, the query optimizer automatically enforces the join order for all joined tables in the query, based on the position of the ON
keywords. When a CROSS JOIN
is used without the ON
clause, parentheses can be used to indicate the join order.
Examples
The Transact-SQL code samples in this article use the AdventureWorks2022
or AdventureWorksDW2022
sample database, which you can download from the Microsoft SQL Server Samples and Community Projects home page.
A. Use HASH
The following example specifies that the JOIN
operation in the query is performed by a HASH
join.
SELECT p.Name,
pr.ProductReviewID
FROM Production.Product AS p
LEFT OUTER HASH JOIN Production.ProductReview AS pr
ON p.ProductID = pr.ProductID
ORDER BY ProductReviewID DESC;
B. Use LOOP
The following example specifies that the JOIN
operation in the query is performed by a LOOP
join.
DELETE
FROM Sales.SalesPersonQuotaHistory
FROM Sales.SalesPersonQuotaHistory AS spqh
INNER LOOP JOIN Sales.SalesPerson AS sp
ON spqh.SalesPersonID = sp.SalesPersonID
WHERE sp.SalesYTD > 2500000.00;
GO
C. Use MERGE
The following example specifies that the JOIN
operation in the query is performed by a MERGE
join.
SELECT poh.PurchaseOrderID,
poh.OrderDate,
pod.ProductID,
pod.DueDate,
poh.VendorID
FROM Purchasing.PurchaseOrderHeader AS poh
INNER MERGE JOIN Purchasing.PurchaseOrderDetail AS pod
ON poh.PurchaseOrderID = pod.PurchaseOrderID;
GO