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Define cursors and stored procedures and their use cases.

SQLeasy0.4 min readPremium

**Architectural Logic**: Cursors = row-at-a-time; stored procedures = encapsulated logic. **Cursors**: Iterate result set row-by-row; use for per-row logic that can't be expressed set-based. Expensive—O(n) round-trips; avoid for bulk ETL. **Stored Procedures**: Reusable SQL;...

🤖 Analyze Your Answer
Frequency
Low
Asked at 1 company
Category
487
questions in SQL
Difficulty Split
130E|271M|86H
in this category
Total Bank
1,863
across 7 categories
Asked at these companies
Impetus
Key Concepts Tested
etlsparksql

Why This Question Matters

This easy-level SQL question appears frequently in data engineering interviews at companies like Impetus. While less common, it tests deeper understanding that distinguishes strong candidates. Mastering the underlying concepts (etl, spark, sql) will help you answer variations of this question confidently.

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Start by clearly defining the core concept being asked about. Interviewers want to see that you understand the fundamentals before diving into implementation details. Structure your answer with a definition, then explain the practical application with a concise example.

Expert Answer
81 words

Architectural Logic: Cursors = row-at-a-time; stored procedures = encapsulated logic. Cursors: Iterate result set row-by-row; use for per-row logic that can't be expressed set-based. Expensive—O(n) round-trips; avoid for bulk ETL. Stored Procedures: Reusable SQL; reduce network round-trips; enforce business rules; parameterized. Why Avoid Cursors: Set-based operations are 10-100x faster; cursors block connections. Use Cases: Cursors—rare, complex per-row decisions; procedures—audit trails, validation, scheduled jobs. Scalability: Procedures scale; cursors don't. Modern Alternative: Use application-layer loops with batch SQL; or Spark for bulk processing.

The complete answer continues with detailed implementation patterns, architectural trade-offs, and production-grade considerations covering performance optimization and real-world examples.

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