Combining the results of three queries into one dataset cross Apply or join

Question

How can I combine the results of three queries into one dataset? Cross Apply or join?

create table tbl_A
(
Dept varchar(5),
DocCountA int
);

create table tbl_b
(
Dept varchar(5),
DocCountB int
);

create table tbl_c
(
Dept varchar(5),
DocCountC int
);

insert into tbl_A
values ('XX',12),('YY',14),('ZZ',16)

insert into tbl_b
values ('XX',20),('YY',25),('ZZ',27)

insert into tbl_c
values ('XX',30),('YY',35)

select * from tbl_A  
select * from tbl_B  
select * from tbl_C  

**tbl_A**  
Dept    DocCountA  
XX  12  
YY  14  
ZZ  16  


**tbl_B**  
Dept    DocCountB  
XX  20   
YY  25    
ZZ  27  

**tbl_C**  
Dept    DocCountC  
XX  30    
YY  35  

Result

Dept DocCountA DocCountB DocCountC  
XX  
YY  
ZZ    

Table C has two results ZZ will be blank

this works using two queries Three will be great!

select * from tbl_A A
cross apply
(
select B.DocCountB from tbl_b B
Where B.Dept=A.Dept
) sod

Answer 1

A left join on each table will allow you to get all 3 departments and the counts if they exist.

select
  a.dept, DocCountA, DocCountB, DocCountC
from
  tbl_a a
  left join tbl_b b on a.dept = b.dept
  left join tbl_c c on a.dept = c.dept

Here is a working fiddle