mysql> create table l (a int); Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec) mysql> create table r (a int); Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec) mysql> insert into l values (1),(2),(3); Query OK, 3 rows affected (0.00 sec) Records: 3 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0 mysql> insert into r values (2),(3),(4); Query OK, 3 rows affected (0.00 sec) Records: 3 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0 mysql> select * from l left join r using (a) where r.a is null; +------+ | a | +------+ | 1 | +------+ 1 row in set (0.03 sec)