What type of join returns all records from the left entity even if there is no match in the right entity?

The type of join that returns all records from the left entity, even if there is no match in the right entity, is known as a LEFT JOIN. In this type of join, the results will include all rows from the left table along with the matching rows from the right table. If there is no match found in the right table, NULL values are returned for columns from the right table.

LEFT JOIN is particularly useful in scenarios where it is important to retain all data from the left entity, regardless of whether corresponding data exists in the right entity. This allows developers to analyze all records from one dataset while incorporating any related information from another, providing a comprehensive view of the data even in the absence of certain relationships.

In contrast, a FULL OUTER JOIN would return all records from both entities, including unmatched rows from either side, which is broader than what a LEFT JOIN provides. An INNER JOIN only returns records where there is a match between the two entities, excluding any non-matching rows from both sides. A RIGHT JOIN, on the other hand, functions similarly to a LEFT JOIN but focuses on retaining all records from the right entity instead.