---
title: "Difference between SQL Intersect VS EXCEPT."  
description: "Difference between SQL Intersect VS EXCEPT."  
author: "Anubhav Sharma"  
published: 2026-04-20  
updated: 2026-04-27  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116529/difference-between-sql-intersect-vs-except  
category: "database"  
tags: ["database", "sql server"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Difference between SQL Intersect VS EXCEPT.

**[Difference](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/157114/good-news-or-bad-news-and-the-difference-is) between [SQL](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12779/sql-connection-open-exception) [Intersect](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34040/use-intersect-in-sql-server) VS EXCEPT.**

## Answers

### Answer by Anubhav Sharma

`INTERSECT`

- Returns **only common rows** from both queries
- Works like: **A ∩ B**
- Removes duplicates

`EXCEPT`

- Returns rows from **first query minus second query**
- Works like: **A − B**
- Removes duplicates

## Example:

```plaintext
-- INTERSECT
SELECT Name FROM Students
INTERSECT
SELECT Name FROM Teachers;
-- → common names in both tables

-- EXCEPT
SELECT Name FROM Students
EXCEPT
SELECT Name FROM Teachers;
-- → names in Students but not in Teachers
```

## Key idea:

- `INTERSECT` = common data
- `EXCEPT` = exclude second result from first


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/116529/difference-between-sql-intersect-vs-except

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