StoredProcedure

A stored procedure is a set of SQL statements that is compiled and stored in a database. It can be executed by name from any application that can connect to the database. Stored procedures offer several advantages, including improved performance, enhanced security, and simplified application development.

Performance gains are achieved because the database system parses, compiles, and optimizes the stored procedure only once. Subsequent executions reuse the compiled plan, reducing overhead. Security is improved by granting execute permissions on the stored procedure rather than direct access to the underlying tables, limiting data exposure. Developers can also benefit from stored procedures by encapsulating complex logic, reducing the amount of SQL code that needs to be written and managed within applications.

Stored procedures can accept input parameters and return output parameters or result sets. They can also contain control flow logic such as conditional statements (IF-THEN-ELSE) and loops, allowing for sophisticated data manipulation and processing within the database itself. This capability makes them powerful tools for enforcing business rules and ensuring data integrity. Many database management systems, such as SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL, support stored procedures.