Turn from http://www.jellythink.com/archives/924, the blog is a clear comparison
I understand that the above is the SQL execution order overall scenario. When you join the index, in fact his execution plan is a slight change, for example, just beginning no longer Mr. Cartesian product, but for SQL rewrite and evaluation, see which index scan to use less, lower cost. We then use the mechanism of the MySQL nesting loop to find the execution order of the tables. Finally, after determining the reading method, the best left table is found by index, then nested loops find the right table and then follow the SQL execution order.
This also explains that the index is first added in the Where field and then the group by field is processed to the last order by field, which is determined by the SQL execution order.
Classic Summary 0707: about whether the index is first where or first group
0708 about understanding MySQL SQL execution Order