What is the difference between a cursor and a result set in DB2?

In DB2, a cursor is a database object that allows you to retrieve rows from a result set one by one, whereas a result set is the complete set of rows returned by a SQL query.

Differences between Cursor and Result Set:

• A cursor allows for sequential access to individual rows in the result set, while a result set is the entire set of rows returned by a query.
• Cursors are usually used when you need to process each row individually, whereas result sets are used to retrieve and display all rows at once.
• Updating data through a cursor is possible as it allows for row-level operations, while result sets are read-only by default.
• Cursors require more management in terms of opening, fetching, and closing, while result sets are simpler to work with as they are already populated with all data.

Understanding the differences between a cursor and a result set in DB2 is important for efficient data retrieval and manipulation in database applications.