SQL left join vs multiple tables on FROM line?

Question

Most SQL dialects accept both the following queries:

SELECT a.foo, b.foo
FROM a, b
WHERE a.x = b.x

SELECT a.foo, b.foo
FROM a
LEFT JOIN b ON a.x = b.x
         


        

Answer 1

The JOIN syntax keeps conditions near the table they apply to. This is especially useful when you join a large amount of tables.

By the way, you can do an outer join with the first syntax too:

WHERE a.x = b.x(+)

Or

WHERE a.x *= b.x

Or

WHERE a.x = b.x or a.x not in (select x from b)