DBMS_SQL package

The DBMS_SQL system package defines an entity called SQL cursor numbers. Since SQL cursor numbers are integers, they can be passed across call boundaries and stored.

You must use DBMS_SQL to execute dynamic SQL statements if any of the following conditions is met:

• The content of the SELECT list is known only at runtime.

• You only know at runtime which placeholders must be bound in SELECT or DML statements.

• The stored subprogram is expected to implicitly return the query results using the DBMS_SQL.RETURN_RESULT stored procedure (rather than via the OUT REF CURSOR parameter).

The DBMS_SQL package must not be used in the following situations:

• Dynamic SQL statements retrieve rows into records.

• To use the SQL cursor attributes %FOUND, %ISOPEN, %NOTFOUND, or %ROWCOUNT after declaring dynamic SQL in an INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, MERGE, or single-row SELECT statement.

For more information about the DBMS_SQL system package, see DBMS_SQL.