mysql> explain select count(*) from sakila.actor where actor_id in (select actor_id from sakila.film_actor); +----+--------------------+------------+----------------+---------------+---------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra | +----+--------------------+------------+----------------+---------------+---------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ | 1 | PRIMARY | actor | index | NULL | PRIMARY | 2 | NULL | 200 | Using where; Using index | | 2 | DEPENDENT SUBQUERY | film_actor | index_subquery | PRIMARY | PRIMARY | 2 | func | 13 | Using index | +----+--------------------+------------+----------------+---------------+---------+---------+------+------+--------------------------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> notee