title: SQL left join vs multiple tables on FROM line?
body: <p>Most SQL dialects accept both the following queries:</p>
  
  <pre><code>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
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Now obviously when you need an outer join, the second syntax is required. But when doing an inner join why should I prefer the second syntax to the first (or vice versa)?</p>