SQL is this equivalent to a LEFT JoIn?

Question

Is this equivalent to a LEFT JOIN?

SELECT DISTINCT a.name, b.name 
  FROM tableA a, 
       (SELECT DISTINCT name FROM tableB) as b

It seems as though there is no link between the two tables.

Is there an easier / more efficient way to write this?

Answer 1

Not, it is equivalent to a cross or cartesian join (really bad) with a distinct applied afterwards. It is pretty hard to know what you really want with the query as it stands.

Answer 2

Isn't this the same as

SELECT DISTINCT a.name, b.name
    FROM tableA a, tableB b

although I would be questioning the purpose for this query.