PL/SQL Interview Question: Cursor vs Cursor Variable

In PL/SQL, a cursor is a database object that allows you to retrieve and process a set of rows returned by a SQL query. On the other hand, a cursor variable is a pointer to a cursor object, which can be dynamically assigned to different queries at runtime.

Key Differences:

• A cursor is a static reference to a specific query, while a cursor variable can be re-assigned to different queries.
• A cursor is defined with a specific query at compile time, whereas a cursor variable's query can be changed dynamically at runtime.
• Cursor variables provide more flexibility and are commonly used in situations where the query needs to be dynamic or change frequently.

When to Use Each:

• Use a cursor when you have a fixed query that needs to be executed multiple times with the same result set.
• Use a cursor variable when you need to dynamically change the query to fetch different result sets based on runtime conditions.
• Cursor variables are particularly useful in scenarios where you need to loop through different result sets or perform dynamic data manipulation operations.

Overall, understanding the difference between cursors and cursor variables in PL/SQL is crucial for efficient database operations and data processing.