diff --git a/.changeset/fast-joins-redesign.md b/.changeset/fast-joins-redesign.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ef9e20e35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fast-joins-redesign.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@tanstack/db-ivm": patch
+---
+
+Redesign of the join operators with direct algorithms for major performance improvements by replacing composition-based joins (inner+anti) with implementation using mass tracking. Delivers significant performance gains while maintaining full correctness for all join types (inner, left, right, full, anti).
diff --git a/packages/db-ivm/src/indexes.ts b/packages/db-ivm/src/indexes.ts
index 3c52614eb..7dcb349ba 100644
--- a/packages/db-ivm/src/indexes.ts
+++ b/packages/db-ivm/src/indexes.ts
@@ -150,11 +150,30 @@ export class Index<TKey, TValue, TPrefix = any> {
    *   hash to identify identical values, storing them in a third level value map.
    */
   #inner: IndexMap<TKey, TValue, TPrefix>
+  #consolidatedMultiplicity: Map<TKey, number> = new Map() // sum of multiplicities per key
 
   constructor() {
     this.#inner = new Map()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Create an Index from multiple MultiSet messages.
+   * @param messages - Array of MultiSet messages to build the index from.
+   * @returns A new Index containing all the data from the messages.
+   */
+  static fromMultiSets<K, V>(messages: Array<MultiSet<[K, V]>>): Index<K, V> {
+    const index = new Index<K, V>()
+
+    for (const message of messages) {
+      for (const [item, multiplicity] of message.getInner()) {
+        const [key, value] = item
+        index.addValue(key, [value, multiplicity])
+      }
+    }
+
+    return index
+  }
+
   /**
    * This method returns a string representation of the index.
    * @param indent - Whether to indent the string representation.
@@ -184,6 +203,32 @@ export class Index<TKey, TValue, TPrefix = any> {
     return this.#inner.has(key)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if a key has presence (non-zero consolidated multiplicity).
+   * @param key - The key to check.
+   * @returns True if the key has non-zero consolidated multiplicity, false otherwise.
+   */
+  hasPresence(key: TKey): boolean {
+    return (this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.get(key) || 0) !== 0
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the consolidated multiplicity (sum of multiplicities) for a key.
+   * @param key - The key to get the consolidated multiplicity for.
+   * @returns The consolidated multiplicity for the key.
+   */
+  getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key: TKey): number {
+    return this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.get(key) || 0
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get all keys that have presence (non-zero consolidated multiplicity).
+   * @returns An iterator of keys with non-zero consolidated multiplicity.
+   */
+  getPresenceKeys(): Iterable<TKey> {
+    return this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.keys()
+  }
+
   /**
    * This method returns all values for a given key.
    * @param key - The key to get the values for.
@@ -257,6 +302,15 @@ export class Index<TKey, TValue, TPrefix = any> {
     // If the multiplicity is 0, do nothing
     if (multiplicity === 0) return
 
+    // Update consolidated multiplicity tracking
+    const newConsolidatedMultiplicity =
+      (this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.get(key) || 0) + multiplicity
+    if (newConsolidatedMultiplicity === 0) {
+      this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.delete(key)
+    } else {
+      this.#consolidatedMultiplicity.set(key, newConsolidatedMultiplicity)
+    }
+
     const mapOrSingleValue = this.#inner.get(key)
 
     if (mapOrSingleValue === undefined) {
diff --git a/packages/db-ivm/src/multiset.ts b/packages/db-ivm/src/multiset.ts
index 1e793345e..44ba297ed 100644
--- a/packages/db-ivm/src/multiset.ts
+++ b/packages/db-ivm/src/multiset.ts
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ export class MultiSet<T> {
     chunkedArrayPush(this.#inner, otherArray)
   }
 
+  add(item: T, multiplicity: number): void {
+    if (multiplicity !== 0) {
+      this.#inner.push([item, multiplicity])
+    }
+  }
+
   getInner(): MultiSetArray<T> {
     return this.#inner
   }
diff --git a/packages/db-ivm/src/operators/join.ts b/packages/db-ivm/src/operators/join.ts
index 96e9ba962..36f710b2f 100644
--- a/packages/db-ivm/src/operators/join.ts
+++ b/packages/db-ivm/src/operators/join.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,57 @@
+/**
+ * # Direct Join Algorithms for Incremental View Maintenance
+ *
+ * High-performance join operations implementing all join types (inner, left, right, full, anti)
+ * with minimal state and optimized performance.
+ *
+ * ## Algorithm
+ *
+ * For each tick, the algorithm processes incoming changes (deltas) and emits join results:
+ *
+ * 1. **Build deltas**: Create delta indexes from input messages using `Index.fromMultiSet()`
+ * 2. **Inner results**: Emit `ΔA⋈B_old + A_old⋈ΔB + ΔA⋈ΔB` (matched pairs)
+ * 3. **Outer results**: For unmatched rows, emit null-extended tuples:
+ *    - New unmatched rows from deltas (when opposite side empty)
+ *    - Presence transitions: when key goes `0→>0` (retract nulls) or `>0→0` (emit nulls)
+ * 4. **Update state**: Append deltas to indexes (consolidated multiplicity tracking automatic)
+ *
+ * **Consolidated multiplicity tracking** enables O(1) presence checks instead of scanning index buckets.
+ *
+ * ## State
+ *
+ * **Indexes** store the actual data:
+ * - `indexA: Index<K, V1>` - all left-side rows accumulated over time
+ * - `indexB: Index<K, V2>` - all right-side rows accumulated over time
+ *
+ * **Consolidated multiplicity tracking** (built into Index):
+ * - Each Index maintains sum of multiplicities per key internally
+ * - Provides O(1) presence checks: `index.hasPresence(key)` and `index.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)`
+ * - Avoids scanning entire index buckets just to check if key has any rows
+ *
+ * ## Join Types
+ *
+ * - **Inner**: Standard delta terms only
+ * - **Outer**: Inner results + null-extended unmatched rows with transition handling
+ * - **Anti**: Unmatched rows only (no inner results)
+ *
+ * ## Key Optimizations
+ *
+ * - **No temp copying**: Uses `(A⊎ΔA)⋈ΔB = A⋈ΔB ⊎ ΔA⋈ΔB` distributive property
+ * - **Early-out checks**: Skip phases when no deltas present
+ * - **Zero-entry pruning**: Keep maps compact, O(distinct keys) memory
+ * - **Final presence logic**: Avoid emit→retract churn within same tick
+ *
+ * ## Correctness
+ *
+ * - **Ordering**: Pre-append snapshots for emissions, post-emit state updates
+ * - **Presence**: Key matched iff mass ≠ 0, transitions trigger null handling
+ * - **Bag semantics**: Proper multiplicity handling including negatives
+ */
+
 import { BinaryOperator, DifferenceStreamWriter } from "../graph.js"
 import { StreamBuilder } from "../d2.js"
 import { MultiSet } from "../multiset.js"
 import { Index } from "../indexes.js"
-import { negate } from "./negate.js"
-import { map } from "./map.js"
-import { concat } from "./concat.js"
 import type { DifferenceStreamReader } from "../graph.js"
 import type { IStreamBuilder, KeyValue, PipedOperator } from "../types.js"
 
@@ -14,66 +61,189 @@ import type { IStreamBuilder, KeyValue, PipedOperator } from "../types.js"
 export type JoinType = `inner` | `left` | `right` | `full` | `anti`
 
 /**
- * Operator that joins two input streams
+ * Operator that joins two input streams using direct join algorithms
  */
 export class JoinOperator<K, V1, V2> extends BinaryOperator<
-  [K, V1] | [K, V2] | [K, [V1, V2]]
+  [K, V1] | [K, V2] | [K, [V1, V2]] | [K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]]
 > {
   #indexA = new Index<K, V1>()
   #indexB = new Index<K, V2>()
+  #mode: JoinType
 
   constructor(
     id: number,
     inputA: DifferenceStreamReader<[K, V1]>,
     inputB: DifferenceStreamReader<[K, V2]>,
-    output: DifferenceStreamWriter<[K, [V1, V2]]>
+    output: DifferenceStreamWriter<any>,
+    mode: JoinType = `inner`
   ) {
     super(id, inputA, inputB, output)
+    this.#mode = mode
   }
 
   run(): void {
-    const deltaA = new Index<K, V1>()
-    const deltaB = new Index<K, V2>()
+    // Build deltas from input messages
+    const deltaA = Index.fromMultiSets<K, V1>(
+      this.inputAMessages() as Array<MultiSet<[K, V1]>>
+    )
+    const deltaB = Index.fromMultiSets<K, V2>(
+      this.inputBMessages() as Array<MultiSet<[K, V2]>>
+    )
 
-    // Process input A - process ALL messages, not just the first one
-    const messagesA = this.inputAMessages()
-    for (const message of messagesA) {
-      const multiSetMessage = message as unknown as MultiSet<[K, V1]>
-      for (const [item, multiplicity] of multiSetMessage.getInner()) {
-        const [key, value] = item
-        deltaA.addValue(key, [value, multiplicity])
-      }
-    }
+    // Early-out if nothing changed
+    if (deltaA.size === 0 && deltaB.size === 0) return
 
-    // Process input B - process ALL messages, not just the first one
-    const messagesB = this.inputBMessages()
-    for (const message of messagesB) {
-      const multiSetMessage = message as unknown as MultiSet<[K, V2]>
-      for (const [item, multiplicity] of multiSetMessage.getInner()) {
-        const [key, value] = item
-        deltaB.addValue(key, [value, multiplicity])
-      }
+    const results = new MultiSet<any>()
+
+    // Emit inner results (all modes except anti)
+    if (this.#mode !== `anti`) {
+      this.emitInnerResults(deltaA, deltaB, results)
     }
 
-    // Process results
-    const results = new MultiSet<[K, [V1, V2]]>()
+    // Emit left outer/anti results
+    if (
+      this.#mode === `left` ||
+      this.#mode === `full` ||
+      this.#mode === `anti`
+    ) {
+      this.emitLeftOuterResults(deltaA, deltaB, results)
+    }
 
-    // Join deltaA with existing indexB
-    results.extend(deltaA.join(this.#indexB))
+    // Emit right outer results
+    if (this.#mode === `right` || this.#mode === `full`) {
+      this.emitRightOuterResults(deltaA, deltaB, results)
+    }
 
-    // Append deltaA to indexA
+    // Update state and send results
+    // IMPORTANT: All emissions use pre-append snapshots of indexA/indexB.
+    // Now append ALL deltas to indices - this happens unconditionally for every key,
+    // regardless of whether presence flipped. Consolidated multiplicity tracking is automatic.
     this.#indexA.append(deltaA)
-
-    // Join existing indexA with deltaB
-    results.extend(this.#indexA.join(deltaB))
+    this.#indexB.append(deltaB)
 
     // Send results
     if (results.getInner().length > 0) {
       this.output.sendData(results)
     }
+  }
 
-    // Append deltaB to indexB
-    this.#indexB.append(deltaB)
+  private emitInnerResults(
+    deltaA: Index<K, V1>,
+    deltaB: Index<K, V2>,
+    results: MultiSet<any>
+  ): void {
+    // Emit the three standard delta terms: ΔA⋈B_old, A_old⋈ΔB, ΔA⋈ΔB
+    if (deltaA.size > 0) results.extend(deltaA.join(this.#indexB))
+    if (deltaB.size > 0) results.extend(this.#indexA.join(deltaB))
+    if (deltaA.size > 0 && deltaB.size > 0) results.extend(deltaA.join(deltaB))
+  }
+
+  private emitLeftOuterResults(
+    deltaA: Index<K, V1>,
+    deltaB: Index<K, V2>,
+    results: MultiSet<any>
+  ): void {
+    // Emit unmatched left rows from deltaA
+    if (deltaA.size > 0) {
+      for (const [key, valueIterator] of deltaA.entriesIterators()) {
+        const currentMultiplicityB =
+          this.#indexB.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const deltaMultiplicityB = deltaB.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const finalMultiplicityB = currentMultiplicityB + deltaMultiplicityB
+
+        if (finalMultiplicityB === 0) {
+          for (const [value, multiplicity] of valueIterator) {
+            if (multiplicity !== 0) {
+              results.add([key, [value, null]], multiplicity)
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Handle presence transitions from right side changes
+    if (deltaB.size > 0) {
+      for (const key of deltaB.getPresenceKeys()) {
+        const before = this.#indexB.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const deltaMult = deltaB.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        if (deltaMult === 0) continue
+        const after = before + deltaMult
+
+        // Skip transition handling if presence doesn't flip (both zero or both non-zero)
+        // Note: Index updates happen later regardless - we're only skipping null-extension emissions here
+        if ((before === 0) === (after === 0)) continue
+
+        // Determine the type of transition:
+        // - 0 → non-zero: Right becomes non-empty, left rows transition from unmatched to matched
+        //   → RETRACT previously emitted null-extended rows (emit with negative multiplicity)
+        // - non-zero → 0: Right becomes empty, left rows transition from matched to unmatched
+        //   → EMIT new null-extended rows (emit with positive multiplicity)
+        const transitioningToMatched = before === 0
+
+        for (const [value, multiplicity] of this.#indexA.getIterator(key)) {
+          if (multiplicity !== 0) {
+            results.add(
+              [key, [value, null]],
+              transitioningToMatched ? -multiplicity : +multiplicity
+            )
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private emitRightOuterResults(
+    deltaA: Index<K, V1>,
+    deltaB: Index<K, V2>,
+    results: MultiSet<any>
+  ): void {
+    // Emit unmatched right rows from deltaB
+    if (deltaB.size > 0) {
+      for (const [key, valueIterator] of deltaB.entriesIterators()) {
+        const currentMultiplicityA =
+          this.#indexA.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const deltaMultiplicityA = deltaA.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const finalMultiplicityA = currentMultiplicityA + deltaMultiplicityA
+
+        if (finalMultiplicityA === 0) {
+          for (const [value, multiplicity] of valueIterator) {
+            if (multiplicity !== 0) {
+              results.add([key, [null, value]], multiplicity)
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Handle presence transitions from left side changes
+    if (deltaA.size > 0) {
+      for (const key of deltaA.getPresenceKeys()) {
+        const before = this.#indexA.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        const deltaMult = deltaA.getConsolidatedMultiplicity(key)
+        if (deltaMult === 0) continue
+        const after = before + deltaMult
+
+        // Skip transition handling if presence doesn't flip (both zero or both non-zero)
+        // Note: Index updates happen later regardless - we're only skipping null-extension emissions here
+        if ((before === 0) === (after === 0)) continue
+
+        // Determine the type of transition:
+        // - 0 → non-zero: Left becomes non-empty, right rows transition from unmatched to matched
+        //   → RETRACT previously emitted null-extended rows (emit with negative multiplicity)
+        // - non-zero → 0: Left becomes empty, right rows transition from matched to unmatched
+        //   → EMIT new null-extended rows (emit with positive multiplicity)
+        const transitioningToMatched = before === 0
+
+        for (const [value, multiplicity] of this.#indexB.getIterator(key)) {
+          if (multiplicity !== 0) {
+            results.add(
+              [key, [null, value]],
+              transitioningToMatched ? -multiplicity : +multiplicity
+            )
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -91,39 +261,30 @@ export function join<
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>,
   type: JoinType = `inner`
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>> {
-  switch (type) {
-    case `inner`:
-      return innerJoin(other) as unknown as PipedOperator<
-        T,
-        KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>
-      >
-    case `anti`:
-      return antiJoin(other) as unknown as PipedOperator<
-        T,
-        KeyValue<K, [V1, null]>
-      >
-    case `left`:
-      return leftJoin(other) as unknown as PipedOperator<
-        T,
-        KeyValue<K, [V1, V2 | null]>
-      >
-    case `right`:
-      return rightJoin(other) as unknown as PipedOperator<
-        T,
-        KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2]>
-      >
-    case `full`:
-      return fullJoin(other) as unknown as PipedOperator<
-        T,
-        KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>
-      >
-    default:
-      throw new Error(`Join type ${type} is invalid`)
+  return (
+    stream: IStreamBuilder<T>
+  ): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>> => {
+    if (stream.graph !== other.graph) {
+      throw new Error(`Cannot join streams from different graphs`)
+    }
+    const output = new StreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>>(
+      stream.graph,
+      new DifferenceStreamWriter<KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>>()
+    )
+    const operator = new JoinOperator<K, V1, V2>(
+      stream.graph.getNextOperatorId(),
+      stream.connectReader() as DifferenceStreamReader<KeyValue<K, V1>>,
+      other.connectReader(),
+      output.writer,
+      type
+    )
+    stream.graph.addOperator(operator)
+    return output
   }
 }
 
 /**
- * Joins two input streams
+ * Joins two input streams (inner join)
  * @param other - The other stream to join with
  */
 export function innerJoin<
@@ -134,27 +295,14 @@ export function innerJoin<
 >(
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>> {
-  return (stream: IStreamBuilder<T>): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>> => {
-    if (stream.graph !== other.graph) {
-      throw new Error(`Cannot join streams from different graphs`)
-    }
-    const output = new StreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>>(
-      stream.graph,
-      new DifferenceStreamWriter<KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>>()
-    )
-    const operator = new JoinOperator<K, V1, V2>(
-      stream.graph.getNextOperatorId(),
-      stream.connectReader() as DifferenceStreamReader<KeyValue<K, V1>>,
-      other.connectReader(),
-      output.writer
-    )
-    stream.graph.addOperator(operator)
-    return output
-  }
+  return join(other, `inner`) as unknown as PipedOperator<
+    T,
+    KeyValue<K, [V1, V2]>
+  >
 }
 
 /**
- * Joins two input streams
+ * Joins two input streams (anti join)
  * @param other - The other stream to join with
  */
 export function antiJoin<
@@ -165,24 +313,14 @@ export function antiJoin<
 >(
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1, null]>> {
-  return (
-    stream: IStreamBuilder<T>
-  ): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1, null]>> => {
-    const matchedLeft = stream.pipe(
-      innerJoin(other),
-      map(([key, [valueLeft, _valueRight]]) => [key, valueLeft])
-    )
-    const anti = stream.pipe(
-      concat(matchedLeft.pipe(negate())),
-      // @ts-ignore TODO: fix this
-      map(([key, value]) => [key, [value, null]])
-    )
-    return anti as IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1, null]>>
-  }
+  return join(other, `anti`) as unknown as PipedOperator<
+    T,
+    KeyValue<K, [V1, null]>
+  >
 }
 
 /**
- * Joins two input streams
+ * Joins two input streams (left join)
  * @param other - The other stream to join with
  */
 export function leftJoin<
@@ -193,21 +331,14 @@ export function leftJoin<
 >(
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1, V2 | null]>> {
-  return (
-    stream: IStreamBuilder<T>
-  ): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1, V2 | null]>> => {
-    const left = stream
-    const right = other
-    const inner = left.pipe(innerJoin(right))
-    const anti = left.pipe(antiJoin(right))
-    return inner.pipe(concat(anti)) as IStreamBuilder<
-      KeyValue<K, [V1, V2 | null]>
-    >
-  }
+  return join(other, `left`) as unknown as PipedOperator<
+    T,
+    KeyValue<K, [V1, V2 | null]>
+  >
 }
 
 /**
- * Joins two input streams
+ * Joins two input streams (right join)
  * @param other - The other stream to join with
  */
 export function rightJoin<
@@ -218,24 +349,14 @@ export function rightJoin<
 >(
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2]>> {
-  return (
-    stream: IStreamBuilder<T>
-  ): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2]>> => {
-    const left = stream as IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V1>>
-    const right = other
-    const inner = left.pipe(innerJoin(right))
-    const anti = right.pipe(
-      antiJoin(left),
-      map(([key, [a, b]]) => [key, [b, a]])
-    )
-    return inner.pipe(concat(anti)) as IStreamBuilder<
-      KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2]>
-    >
-  }
+  return join(other, `right`) as unknown as PipedOperator<
+    T,
+    KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2]>
+  >
 }
 
 /**
- * Joins two input streams
+ * Joins two input streams (full join)
  * @param other - The other stream to join with
  */
 export function fullJoin<
@@ -246,19 +367,8 @@ export function fullJoin<
 >(
   other: IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V2>>
 ): PipedOperator<T, KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>> {
-  return (
-    stream: IStreamBuilder<T>
-  ): IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>> => {
-    const left = stream as IStreamBuilder<KeyValue<K, V1>>
-    const right = other
-    const inner = left.pipe(innerJoin(right))
-    const antiLeft = left.pipe(antiJoin(right))
-    const antiRight = right.pipe(
-      antiJoin(left),
-      map(([key, [a, b]]) => [key, [b, a]])
-    )
-    return inner.pipe(concat(antiLeft), concat(antiRight)) as IStreamBuilder<
-      KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>
-    >
-  }
+  return join(other, `full`) as unknown as PipedOperator<
+    T,
+    KeyValue<K, [V1 | null, V2 | null]>
+  >
 }
diff --git a/packages/db/src/query/compiler/joins.ts b/packages/db/src/query/compiler/joins.ts
index 1beb93728..418783983 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/query/compiler/joins.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/query/compiler/joins.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
-import {
-  consolidate,
-  filter,
-  join as joinOperator,
-  map,
-  tap,
-} from "@tanstack/db-ivm"
+import { filter, join as joinOperator, map, tap } from "@tanstack/db-ivm"
 import {
   CollectionInputNotFoundError,
   InvalidJoinCondition,
@@ -290,7 +284,6 @@ function processJoin(
 
   return mainPipeline.pipe(
     joinOperator(joinedPipeline, joinClause.type as JoinType),
-    consolidate(),
     processJoinResults(joinClause.type)
   )
 }