MYSQL STORED ROUTINES

March, 2023
 WHAT ARE STORED ROUTINES?
• Stored Procedure
• A way of saving a query or series of queries
to the database itself
• Can accept and pass back values
• Allows programmatic logic to be used in
queries
• Function
• A method that can alter and manipulate data
• Can accept parameters, and always returns a
value
• Can be called in a SQL query with typical
function syntax:
• SELECT custName, addTax(amount)
 HOW DO WE USE IT?
• Both follow a similar structure
• Define Delimiter symbol (which symbol
ends the statement)
• Allows multiple ‘;’ in a routine
• Create the routine with your statements
enclosed between BEGIN and END
• Stored Procedure
• Must specify if a parameter is IN, OUT, or INOUT
• Can be executed by:
• CALL procedureName()
• SET @var = CALL procedureName()
• Function
• Must specify what datatype will be returned, and
have a RETURN statement
• Can be executed anywhere you would reference a
column
 WHAT’S THE SYNTAX?

• Stored Procedure • Function

 EXAMPLE STORED ROUTINES
• Stored Procedure • Function
 LIMITATIONS

• Most of what can be done in a routine can be done with manual SQL statements
• Are best suited for slightly modifying data; not the best choice for implementing complicated
business logic
• Should be used for queries that are run semi-regularly
• Not ideal for daily or more use, as client code is usually more efficient and accurate

• Routines take up space, so the more of them there are, the larger your database needs to be
 HOW TO STOP MID-EXECUTION

• Say you run into an error partway through your execution of a procedure, either from logic or
data entered by the user
• Instead of having the procedure crash and fail entirely, or fully stop the server, you can have checks
that will catch the errors/logic and exit the procedure early
• This is done by assigning a label to the procedure with the BEGIN statement
• Can then be exited with the LEAVE labelName; command
LEAVE EXAMPLE