Cursor (databases)

In <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a>, a <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">database</a> cursor is a mechanism that enables traversal over the <a href="/facts/Database_record/PIpv7c9e">records</a> in a database. Cursors facilitate processing in conjunction with the traversal, such as retrieval, addition and removal of database records. The database cursor characteristic of traversal makes cursors akin to the programming language concept of <a href="/facts/Iterator/f0HhTBWz">iterator</a>.
Cursors are used by database programmers to process individual rows returned by <a href="/facts/Database_system/VYcpkevb">database system</a> queries. Cursors enable manipulation of whole <a href="/facts/Result_set/G5nUHQbv">result sets</a> at once. In this scenario, a cursor enables the sequential processing of rows in a result set.
In SQL procedures, a cursor makes it possible to define a result set (a set of data rows) and perform complex logic on a row by row basis. By using the same mechanics, a SQL procedure can also define a result set and return it directly to the caller of the SQL procedure or to a client application.
A cursor can be viewed as a pointer to one row in a set of rows. The cursor can only reference one row at a time, but can move to other rows of the result set as needed.

Cursor (databases) open-in-new

Cursor (databases)