Part 119: Cursors in SQL: Sequential Row Processing

A Cursor provides a mechanism to navigate through a result set row-by-row.

1. Why Cursors are Generally Discouraged

SQL is inherently designed for set-based operations. Processing rows one-by-one via cursors is orders of magnitude slower than equivalent declarative joins or window functions.

Key Takeaways

• Reserve cursors only for administrative tasks or when calling external systems per row.

In Part 120, we explore Database Triggers: BEFORE, AFTER & INSTEAD OF Triggers!