**Joins combine data from multiple Sheets based on matching columns, so you can see related information side by side in one dataset.**

Think of a Join like VLOOKUP in Excel, but more general and without the formula gymnastics.

## When to use a Join

- **Add attributes from another Sheet**, for example pulling customer names onto an orders Sheet.
- **Combine fact data with a lookup table**, for example adding a product category to each transaction.
- **Build a single dataset for analysis**, so Pivot Tables, Charts, and Dashboards all work off one clean source.

## Start a Join

1. **Click** **Join** in the toolbar, or press `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + J`.
2. **Select** the base table and the columns you want to keep.
3. **Choose** a Join type: Inner, Left, Right, or Full.
4. **Select** the second table and the columns you want to bring in.
5. **Set** Join conditions (the matching columns).
6. **Preview** the result, then create the joined dataset.

## Notes

- Join columns must have compatible data types.
- The preview shows a sample before committing, so you can sanity-check matches first.
- The joined dataset opens as its own Sheet, which you can filter, pivot, and chart like any other.

## Video walkthrough

[Watch join walkthrough](https://youtu.be/EBYu6ToL8WA?t=152#embed)

## Related pages

- [Pivot Tables](/docs/pivot-tables)
- [Filtering Data](/docs/filtering-data)
- [Creating Visualizations](/docs/creating-visualizations)
- [Building Dashboards](/docs/building-dashboards)