Which type of JOIN operation includes all records from one table and matches with another table?

The reason for selecting Outer Join as the correct answer lies in its fundamental definition and behavior in relational databases. An Outer Join combines all records from one table with matching records from another table. When there are no matches, it includes NULL values for the columns of the non-matching table. This means that regardless of whether a matching record is found, all records from the primary table will still appear in the result set.

In contrast, Inner Join only returns records where there is a match between both tables, effectively omitting any records that do not satisfy this condition. Cross Join produces a Cartesian product of both tables, resulting in all possible combinations of rows, rather than focusing on record alignment based on a relationship. Self Join refers to a scenario where a table is joined with itself, generally utilized for comparing rows within the same table.

Understanding the specific function of an Outer Join provides clarity on why it encompasses all records from one table alongside applicable matches from another table, allowing for a more comprehensive view of the data involved.