eq_ref
One row will be read from this table for each combination of rows from the previous tables. Other than the const types, this is the best possible join type. It is used when all parts of an index are used by the join and the index is a PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE index.
eq_ref can be used for indexed columns that are compared using the = operator. The comparison value can be a constant or an expression that uses columns from tables that are read before this table.
In the following examples, MySQL can use an eq_ref join to process ref_table:
SELECT * FROM ref_table,other_tableWHERE ref_table.key_column=other_table.column;SELECT * FROM ref_table,other_tableWHERE ref_table.key_column_part1=other_table.columnAND ref_table.key_column_part2=1;
ref
All rows with matching index values will be read from this table for each combination of rows from the previous tables. ref is used if the join uses only a leftmost prefix of the key or if the key is not a PRIMARY KEY or UNIQUE index (in other words, if the join cannot select a single row based on the key value). If the key that is used matches only a few rows, this is a good join type.
ref can be used for indexed columns that are compared using the = operator.
In the following examples, MySQL can use a ref join to process ref_table:
SELECT * FROM ref_table WHERE key_column=expr;SELECT * FROM ref_table,other_tableWHERE ref_table.key_column=other_table.column;SELECT * FROM ref_table,other_tableWHERE ref_table.key_column_part1=other_table.columnAND ref_table.key_column_part2=1;
ref_or_null