The Hidden Power (and Risk) of MySQL CROSS JOIN
Most JOINs filter and refine. A MySQL CROSS JOIN does the opposite. It produces a Cartesian product, generating every possible row combination between two tables. That makes it ideal for modeling permutations, scheduling, or building complete matrices. But left unchecked, it can also flood your system with millions of rows and drag performance to a halt.
This article explains how CROSS JOIN really works, how to apply it intentionally, and where the biggest performance traps lie. It also shows why many developers turn to a professional MySQL IDE like dbForge Studio to design, test, and optimize CROSS JOIN queries in a safer, more transparent environment.
Read the full breakdown and see where MySQL CROSS JOIN fits into modern workflows.
