Question

select e.last_name, e.hire_date
from employees e join employees m
on (m.last_name = 'Davies')
and (e.hire_date > m.hire_date);

select e.last_name, e.hire_date
from employees e join employees m
on (m.last_name = 'Davies')
where (e.hire_date > m.hire_date);

select e.last_name, e.hire_date
from employees e join employees m
on (e.hire_date > m.hire_date)
where (m.last_name = 'Davies');

These three statements have the same result. Apart from the fact that where cannot be used exclusively, without using on, is there any particular reason to use where at all in table joins?

Answer 1

The main difference is when you are using different joins.

Typically you should see the same result if you were to use inner joins, but once you start using LEFT joins the results will change.

Have a look at the following example

SQL Fiddle DEMO

And have a look at the following article (very explanatory)

EDIT for @ShannonSeverance

Schema and Test data

CREATE TABLE Table1 (
  ID INT,
  Val VARCHAR(20)
 );

INSERT INTO Table1 VALUES (1,'a');
INSERT INTO Table1 VALUES (2,'a');

CREATE TABLE Table2 (
  ID INT,
  Val VARCHAR(20)
 );

INSERT INTO Table2 VALUES (1,'a');

and Tests

SELECT t1.ID,
t1.Val,
t2.ID ID2,
t2.Val Val2
FROM Table1 t1 INNER JOIN
Table2 t2 ON t1.ID = t2.ID AND t1.Val = t2.Val;

SELECT  t1.ID,
t1.Val,
t2.ID ID2,
t2.Val Val2
FROM Table1 t1,Table2 t2 
WHERE t1.ID = t2.ID
 AND t1.Val = t2.Val;

SELECT  t1.ID,
t1.Val,
t2.ID ID2,
t2.Val Val2
FROM Table1 t1 LEFT JOIN
Table2 t2 ON t1.ID = t2.ID  AND t1.Val = t2.Val;

SELECT  t1.ID,
t1.Val,
t2.ID ID2,
t2.Val Val2
FROM Table1 t1 LEFT JOIN
Table2 t2 ON t1.ID = t2.ID  
WHERE t1.Val = t2.Val;