Best practices for the order of joined columns in a sql join?

Question

There\'s a big discussion going on at my office on the order of the joined columns in a sql join. I\'m finding it hard explaining it so I\'ll just present the two sql statem

Answer 1

I have always used option 1 and that is also the way that orcale teach it on their SQL and PL/SQL course.

On the subject of best practice though,

One thing you have used that oracle also teach is the 1 or 2 letter table aliases.. Although this can seem like a great idea at the time and it makes writing the statement / procedure / function allot easier (at the time) it can be difficult to then come back and look at the same piece of code at a later date.

e.g. We have many PL/SQL functions that are looking at / pulling data from tens of tables and while the aliases are fresh in your mind , great, but come back to the same code in a few years and it can get sticky.

I'm not saying don't use table aliases but i always try and avoid the 1 or 2 letter ones that allot of places / people teach.

(Not quite on the topic of joins only but on the topic of best practice)