Differences Between XCTL and LINK in CICS Program

When it comes to CICS programming, understanding the differences between XCTL and LINK commands is essential. Both XCTL and LINK are used to transfer control from one CICS program to another, but they have distinct differences.

XCTL Command

The XCTL command is used to transfer control from the calling program to the target program without returning to the calling program. This means that the calling program loses control and the target program becomes the main program.

LINK Command

The LINK command, on the other hand, is used to transfer control from the calling program to the target program and then return control back to the calling program after the target program completes execution. This allows the calling program to resume its execution after the LINK command.

It is important to choose between XCTL and LINK based on the specific requirements of the CICS program to ensure proper control flow and program execution.