What is a cursor in Oracle and how is it used in PL/SQL programming?

1 Answers
Answered by suresh

In Oracle database management system, a cursor is a pointer or mechanism used to retrieve data row by row from a result set. Cursors are mainly employed in PL/SQL programming to facilitate the fetching of data while performing operations on it.

In PL/SQL, a cursor is typically declared, opened, fetched, and closed. The DECLARE statement defines the cursor, the OPEN statement initializes it, the FETCH statement retrieves data from each row, and the CLOSE statement releases the cursor once all the data has been processed. Cursors provide control over the result sets and allow for manipulation and processing of data efficiently in PL/SQL programs.

By utilizing cursors in PL/SQL programming, developers can perform complex data operations that require row-level processing or manipulation. Cursors help in organizing and managing data fetched from the database tables, enabling developers to iterate over the result sets effectively.

In conclusion, cursors play a vital role in Oracle databases and are essential tools for managing and processing data in PL/SQL programs efficiently.

**Focus keyword: cursor in Oracle and PL/SQL programming**

Answer for Question: What is a cursor in Oracle and how is it used in PL/SQL programming?