Cost-based semi-join rewrite

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for executing a relational database management system (RDBMS) in a computer system, wherein the RDBMS manages a relational database comprised of one or more tables storing data. The RDBMS executes a query with a semi-join operation comprising an inclusion join and/or an exclusion join performed against at least an outer table and an inner table, wherein the inclusion join returns a row from the outer table when there is a match with a row in the inner table, and the exclusion join returns a row from the outer table when there is no match with a row in the inner table. The RDBMS performs a rewrite of the query to avoid spooling and/or sorting of the inner table, when the inner table is larger than the outer table and a cost after the rewrite is lower than before the rewrite.