Cursors And Its Usage

G.SAI DHANUSH
237R5A0527
DBMS
SlideMake.com
Introduction to Cursors

Cursors are database objects used to retrieve

and manipulate data in a set.

They are commonly used in SQL programming

to navigate through a result set.

Cursors provide a way to process individual

rows of a query result one at a time.
Types of Cursors

There are three types of cursors in SQL:

forward-only, static, and dynamic.

Forward-only cursors allow fetching rows only

in a forward direction.

Static cursors create a temporary copy of the

data and are not affected by changes made to
the underlying data.
Types of Cursors (cont.)

Dynamic cursors reflect changes made to the

underlying data when fetched.

Cursors can also be classified as read-only or

updatable, depending on whether they allow
modifications to the data.

Choosing the appropriate cursor type is crucial

for efficient data processing.
Declaring and Opening Cursors

To use a cursor in SQL, you first need to declare

it using a DECLARE statement.

After declaration, the cursor is opened using the

OPEN statement to execute the associated
query.

Opening a cursor establishes a result set that can

be navigated using FETCH statements.
Fetching Data with Cursors

Once a cursor is opened, data can be retrieved

row by row using FETCH statements.

The FETCH statement moves the cursor

position to the next row in the result set.

Cursors provide granular control over data

retrieval and processing.
Closing Cursors

After processing data with a cursor, it is

essential to close the cursor using the CLOSE
statement.

Closing a cursor releases the resources

associated with it and frees up memory.

Failing to close a cursor can lead to memory

leaks and performance issues.
Cursor Limitations

Cursors can be inefficient for processing large

result sets due to their row-by-row processing
nature.

They may also lead to performance issues and

increased server load.

It is recommended to use set-based operations

instead of cursors whenever possible for better
performance.
Best Practices for Cursor Usage

Minimize the use of cursors by opting for set-

based operations like JOINs and subqueries.

Use cursors only when necessary for specific

row-level processing tasks.

Always remember to close the cursor after

completing the data processing to prevent
resource leaks.
Conclusion

Cursors are valuable tools for navigating and

processing data in SQL programming.

Understanding the types of cursors and their

appropriate usage is crucial for efficient
database operations.

By following best practices and considering the

limitations of cursors, developers can optimize
their data processing workflows.
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YOU