sql - join without duplicating the key

Question

I want to join two tables with several hundred columns, like this:

select * from a, b where a.key = b.key

The problem is that I get a table that has

Key | Key | Row1 | etc...

Without naming all of the columns explicitly ("select a.key, row1, ... from a, b where a.key = b.key"), is there a way I can limit the query so that it only returns one of the keys?

Answer 1

select * from a INNER JOIN b USING (key)

The USING statement causes the key to only show up once in your result.

Answer 2

Maybe NATURAL JOIN is solution for you:

SELECT * FROM a NATURAL JOIN b;

But if there are more duplicated key names and you want both of such keys in results, then natural join is not good for you.