Users Without Searches
Which registered users have never made a single search query?
- Joins
- NULL handling
- Filtering
- Sorting
Challenge brief
Understand the request
User Engagement is investigating dormant users who signed up but have never performed a search — a key early-churn signal.
Return user_id in the declared deterministic order.
Return
- user_id
Constraints
- Return registered users with no search records
- Order by user ID
Data you will use
Review the relevant tables before deciding how to join, filter, or aggregate them.
users
user_idINTEGERcountryVARCHAR(50)device_typeVARCHAR(20)signup_dateDATE
search_queries
query_idINTEGERuser_idINTEGERquery_textVARCHAR(200)search_dateDATE
Hints, when you need them
Open one clue at a time so you still do the reasoning.
Hint 1
Preserve the full registered-user population while matching search activity.
Hint 2
A missing key on the activity side identifies users without searches.
Hint 3
Return only the preserved user identifier and stabilize its order.
Verified SQL answer
Attempt the problem first, then compare structure and reasoning—not just syntax.
Reveal solution and explanation
SELECT u.user_id FROM users u LEFT JOIN search_queries s ON u.user_id = s.user_id WHERE s.user_id IS NULL ORDER BY u.user_idWhy this works
LEFT JOIN keeps all users even those with no searches. Unmatched rows have NULL in search_queries columns. WHERE s.user_id IS NULL isolates the 3 users (21=Spain, 22=Italy, 23=Mexico) who signed up in Feb 2024 and haven't searched.
Success check
Returns the complete deterministic result for users without searches
Expected result
Use this output to verify values, aliases, ordering, and row count.
| user_id |
|---|
| 21 |
| 22 |
| 23 |
| 24 |
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