mysql> explain select count(*) from sakila.film_actor where actor_id in(select actor_id from sakila.actor); +----+--------------------+------------+-----------------+---------------+----------------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra | +----+--------------------+------------+-----------------+---------------+----------------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ | 1 | PRIMARY | film_actor | index | NULL | idx_fk_film_id | 2 | NULL | 5143 | Using where; Using index | | 2 | DEPENDENT SUBQUERY | actor | unique_subquery | PRIMARY | PRIMARY | 2 | func | 1 | Using index | +----+--------------------+------------+-----------------+---------------+----------------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ 2 rows in set (0.01 sec) mysql> notee