<p>What are the potential pros and cons of each of these queries given different databases, configurations, etc?  Is there ever a time when one would be more efficient than the other?  Vice versa?  Is there an even better way to do it?  Can you explain why?</p>

<p>Query 1:</p>

<pre><code>SELECT 
  *
FROM
  table_a, table_b, table_c
WHERE
  table_a.id = table_b.id AND
  table_a.id = table_c.id AND
  table_a.create_date &gt; DATE('1998-01-01');
</code></pre>

<p>Query 2:</p>

<pre><code>SELECT 
  *
FROM
  table_a 
INNER JOIN table_b ON
  table_a.id = table_b.id
INNER JOIN table_c ON
  table_a.id = table_c.id
WHERE
  table_a.create_date &gt; DATE('1998-01-01');
</code></pre>

[{'answer_id': 80169, 'author': 'Encoder', 'author_id': 14629, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/14629', 'pm_score': -1, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>I agree, it's sounding a bit too much like Homework!</p>\n\n<p>If it isn't homework then I guess the simplest answer is readability.</p>\n\n<p>As stated before, both queries will produce the same execution plan. If this is the case then the only thing you need to worry about it maintainability.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 80172, 'author': 'Community', 'author_id': -1, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/-1', 'pm_score': 3, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>Same query, different revision of SQL spec. The query optimizer should come up with the same query plan for those.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 80180, 'author': 'Community', 'author_id': -1, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/-1', 'pm_score': 0, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>Nope.  I'm just sharing a large, overwhelmed database with some coworkers and am trying to come up with some ways to get more processor bang for our buck.  I've been looking around online but haven't found a good explanation for some questions like this.</p>\n\n<p>Sorry for sounding homework-y.  I guess I spent too many years as a TA.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 80219, 'author': 'Community', 'author_id': -1, 'author_profile': 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/-1', 'pm_score': 0, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>Actually, I think query 2's more readable. Think about when you get to say 5,6, or 7 tables when you hit the where clause in query one. Following the joins could get messy.</p>\n\n<p>As for performance, I have no idea. I bet if you go to the MySQL website, there would be info there - probably examples of joins.</p>\n\n<p>Professionally, I've only worked on one project. But it was a big one, and they always followed query 2's format. This was using Microsoft SQL Server though.</p>\n"}]
['https://Stackoverflow.com/questions/80152', 'https://Stackoverflow.com', 'https://Stackoverflow.com/users/-1/']