Advanced SQL
Q93 / 100

What is a "lateral join" (or CROSS APPLY in SQL Server) used for?

Correct! Well done.

Incorrect.

The correct answer is B) It allows a subquery on the right side of the join to reference columns from the left side's current row, enabling per-row correlated computations such as "top N per group"

B

Correct Answer

It allows a subquery on the right side of the join to reference columns from the left side's current row, enabling per-row correlated computations such as "top N per group"

Explanation

Unlike a normal join where both sides are evaluated independently, a LATERAL (or CROSS/OUTER APPLY) join lets the right-hand subquery reference columns from the left-hand row, enabling row-by-row correlated subqueries like fetching the top N related records per row.

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