# Self Join

A query that joins a table to another reference to the same table.

## What is **Self Join** in a relational database?

**Self Join** — A query that joins a table to another reference to the same table.

```sql
SELECT employee.name, manager.name AS manager_name
FROM employee
LEFT JOIN employee AS manager
    ON manager.employee_id = employee.manager_id;
```

Level: Apprentice · [More Database terms at this level](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/subjects/database/apprentice)

Updated: September 27, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/self-join