EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM t1 WHERE t1.id NOT IN (SELECT t2.id FROM t2,t3 WHERE t3.name='xxx' AND t2.id=t3.id); id select_type table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows Extra 1 PRIMARY t1 ALL NULL NULL NULL NULL 4 Using where 2 DEPENDENT SUBQUERY t2 eq_ref PRIMARY PRIMARY 4 func 1 Using where; Using index; Full scan on NULL key 2 DEPENDENT SUBQUERY t3 eq_ref PRIMARY PRIMARY 4 func 1 Using where; Full scan on NULL key