The SQL UNION clause is a key feature in relational databases, allowing for the combination of SELECT query results into a single dataset. It ensures data type compatibility and column count match, and is essential for merging customer records, organizational reporting, and data analysis. SQL UNION distinguishes itself by excluding duplicates, unlike UNION ALL. In BigQuery, SQL UNION is optimized for large-scale data management, and the choice between UNION and JOIN depends on the data combination needs.
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SQL UNION is a command used in relational databases to combine the results of multiple SELECT queries into a single result set
Identical Number of Columns
Each SELECT query involved in a SQL UNION must have the same number of columns
Compatible Data Types
Corresponding columns in the SELECT queries must have compatible data types
SQL UNION is useful for consolidating similar data from different tables and for presenting a cohesive dataset from disparate sources
SQL UNION and UNION ALL are variations of the same operation, with the main difference being the treatment of duplicate records
SQL UNION filters out duplicate rows, while UNION ALL includes all records, including duplicates
The choice between SQL UNION and UNION ALL should be based on the specific requirements of the task and the potential impact on performance
SQL UNION is valuable for compiling reports from disparate data sources and reducing the complexity of queries
SQL UNION enables analysts to merge datasets from various sources, such as web and mobile platforms, to derive deeper insights and enhance performance analysis
SQL UNION and JOIN are essential SQL operations for combining data from different tables, each serving a unique purpose based on the relationships between the tables and the desired method of data combination