Select * Where not Exists gives me errors

Question

Ok my objective is to query table 1 for data, but make sure that the data has not already been presented by checking in table 2.

Each data has an ID which is under the UUID column.

Select * FROM table1 Where Not Exists (SELECT * FROM table2 WHERE table2.UUID = table1.UUID);

But I have researched and I have tried every possible way to write that query and I keep getting:

"ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM table2 WHERE table2.UUID = table1.UUID) at line 1"

Any help?

Also some of the articles I found on the internet suggest that a join would be more efficient, but others state that where not exists is better. Which is the more efficient route?

Thanks

Answer 1

i think you have to that like this:

SELECT UUID, ...
FROM Table1
WHERE UUID NOT IN
        (SELECT UUID FROM Table2 WHERE Table2.UUID = Table1.UUID)

this means that the query selects all records from table1 where UUID in table1 does not exist in table2

Answer 2

Try replacing table with table1:

SELECT * FROM table1 WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM table2 WHERE table2.UUID = table1.UUID);

Answer 3

You could always use a LEFT JOIN and check for NULL instead.

SELECT a.*
FROM table1 AS a
LEFT JOIN table2 AS b ON a.UUID=b.UUID
WHERE b.UUID IS NULL