When should I use cross apply over inner join?

Question

What is the main purpose of using CROSS APPLY?

I have read (vaguely, through posts on the Internet) that cross apply can be more efficient when selectin

Answer 1

I guess it should be readability ;)

CROSS APPLY will be somewhat unique for people reading to tell them that a UDF is being used which will be applied to each row from the table on the left.

Ofcourse, there are other limitations where a CROSS APPLY is better used than JOIN which other friends have posted above.