Union and join seem like very similar functions in Alteryx. In todays first session we used both of these functions. This is my understanding of what they are used for and how they are different.

Union was the first out of the two which we used. This was to join two (can be more) different data's that have the same columns with different values. The result will be a file with all the information as a stacked table. This means more rows would be created rather then columns

Now considering the join function. This is used to combine two (or more) different data's that have one or more similar columns. The results allow for three options and it is best described as a Venn diagram. The images below demonstrate what we did in the first session this is shown by the following:

Table 1 is shown by the left Venn diagram which showed the sales in the data ( no data is shown here cause you would not have more sales then costs).

Table 2 shows the sections joined which would show all sections in how they are linked( this shows the sales and the costs of the item). This has created a lot more columns as shown below:

Table 3 shows the right Venn diagram which shows the costs (costs would usually still occur as not all products would sell).