What is the difference between a equi-join and a non-equi-join in Spark SQL?

Joining tables is a fundamental operation in SQL and Spark SQL. When performing a join, we combine rows from two or more tables based on a specified condition. The two most common types of joins are equi-joins and non-equi-joins. In this blog post, we'll explore the difference between these two types of joins in Spark SQL.

Equi-Join

An equi-join is a join operation where the join condition is based on an equality operator (i.e., =). In other words, an equi-join returns all rows from two or more tables where the join condition is true. Here's an example:

Removing column name ambiguity using alias

SELECT * FROM orders JOIN customers ON orders.customer_id = customers.customer_id

In this example, we join the orders and customers tables on the customer_id column using an equi-join. This will return all rows from both tables where the customer_id values match.

Equi-joins are the most common type of join and are widely used in Spark SQL. They are efficient and easy to understand.

Non-Equi-Join

A non-equi-join, also known as a range join or inequality join, is a join operation where the join condition is based on a range operator (i.e., <, <=, >, >=, BETWEEN). In other words, a non-equi-join returns all rows from two or more tables where the join condition is true based on a range or inequality operator. Here's an example:

Removing column name ambiguity using alias

SELECT * FROM employees JOIN salaries ON employees.salary BETWEEN salaries.min_salary AND salaries.max_salary

In this example, we join the employees and salaries tables based on the salary column using a non-equi-join. This will return all rows from both tables where the employee's salary falls within the salary range specified in the salaries table.

Non-equi-joins are less common than equi-joins and are typically used for more complex queries where the join condition cannot be expressed using an equality operator. However, non-equi-joins can be more complex and less efficient than equi-joins.

Performance Considerations

When working with large datasets, the performance of join operations can become a concern. In general, equi-joins are more efficient than non-equi-joins because they are simpler and easier to optimize.

However, there are some cases where non-equi-joins can be more efficient. For example, when joining on a date range, a non-equi-join can be more efficient than an equi-join because the join condition can be expressed using a range operator.

Another consideration is the size and distribution of the data. When joining two large tables, it may be more efficient to perform a non-equi-join on a subset of the data before performing an equi-join on the result. This can help reduce the amount of data that needs to be processed in the equi-join.

Conclusion

In conclusion, equi-joins and non-equi-joins are two types of join operations in Spark SQL. Equi-joins are the most common type of join and are based on an equality operator. Non-equi-joins are less common and are based on a range operator. When working with large datasets, equi-joins are typically more efficient than non-equi-joins, but there are some cases where non-equi-joins can be more efficient.