SQL operates on sets of records, so it's up to the user to specify and restrict the set. One can form a set by specifying just a table, or tune more by JOINs a

SQL operates on sets of records, so it's up to the user to specify and restrict the set. One can form a set by specifying just a table, or tune more by JOINs and further with WHERE clause. Well, of course a JOIN is just one way to say WHERE. Still, when properly joined, the resulting set may not need a WHERE in UPDATE.