What is the difference between EXEC SQL DECLARE SECTION and EXEC SQL BEGINE DECLARE SECTION in Pro*C?

The Difference Between EXEC SQL DECLARE SECTION and EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION in Pro*C

In Pro*C, there is a significant difference between EXEC SQL DECLARE SECTION and EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION. The focus keyword in this context is Pro*C, a precompiler used to embed SQL statements in C programs.

When using EXEC SQL DECLARE SECTION, the precompiler marks the beginning of the host variable declaration section. This means that host variables are declared outside of any specific program block, making them accessible globally throughout the program.

On the other hand, EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION is used to declare host variables within a specific program block. This restricts the scope of these variables to that particular block, making them only accessible within it.

Therefore, the key distinction lies in the scope of host variable declaration - EXEC SQL DECLARE SECTION allows for global accessibility, while EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION limits the scope to the enclosing program block.