They are indeed very similar, the main difference would be in their syntax:
- SQL IN is a shorthand for multiple OR conditions when you specify your WHERE clause
e.g. SELECT * FROM Database WHERE Fruit IN ('Apple', 'Orange', 'Banana');
- Trifacta IN is a function and returns a Boolean, you must specify the arguments with an array
e.g. keep row: IN(brand, ['discount','mid','high-end'] )
derive value:IN(column_string, values_array)
More info on this page:
https://docs.trifacta.com/display/PE/IN+Function