A compact joint for connecting a first panel to a second panel of furniture and other furnishing items, positioned perpendicular to each other, includes a plurality of interconnection and blocking components for joining and firmly blocking the two panels together. The plurality of components of interconnection and blocking components lies on the same plane, which is perpendicular to the first and second panels and which contains a coupling axis between the first and second panels that travels inside the first panel. The joint also defines an actuation axis that is perpendicular to the coupling axis and lies on a plane parallel and interspaced with respect to the first panel and perpendicular with respect to the second panel.