I know there's all sorts of people out there just now getting into PHP and starting to understand how to "get around" in the language and get things done. The last thing these people want to do is to add complexity to something they already know - but that's what happens when you throw SQL into the mix, specifically joins in SQL.

Luckily, it's DevShed to the rescue again! Their latest article, Understanding SQL Joins, gives you a great overview of some of the most common joins to hit the scene - left joins, inner joins, right joins, etc. They use the same three tables of information on all of the examples, so it's easier to see what results are returned when.

SQL Joins can either be the best thing invented since sliced bread or they can be your worst nightmare, trying to tweak it just right to get what you want. Thankfully, this article from DevShed helps pave the way to understanding them and bending them to your will.