Which SQL query is faster? Filter on Join criteria or Where clause?
- by Jon Erickson
Compare these 2 queries. Is it faster to put the filter on the join criteria or in the were clause. I have always felt that it is faster on the join criteria because it reduces the result set at the soonest possible moment, but I don't know for sure.
I'm going to build some tests to see, but I also wanted to get opinions on which would is clearer to read as well.
Query 1
SELECT *
FROM TableA a
INNER JOIN TableXRef x
ON a.ID = x.TableAID
INNER JOIN TableB b
ON x.TableBID = b.ID
WHERE a.ID = 1 /* <-- Filter here? */
Query 2
SELECT *
FROM TableA a
INNER JOIN TableXRef x
ON a.ID = x.TableAID
AND a.ID = 1 /* <-- Or filter here? */
INNER JOIN TableB b
ON x.TableBID = b.ID
