Embedded SQL

• all SQL commands, such as SELECT and INSERT, available with SQL with interactive tools

• flow control commands, such as PREPARE and OPEN, which integrate the standard SQL commands with a procedural programming language

Embedded SQL is supported by the Oracle precompilers. The Oracle precompilers interpret embedded SQL statements and translate them into statements that can be understood by procedural language compilers.

Each of these Oracle precompilers translates embedded SQL programs into a different procedural language:

• the Pro*Ada precompiler

• the Pro*C/C++ precompiler

• the Pro*COBOL precompiler

• the Pro*FORTRAN precompiler

• the Pro*Pascal precompiler

• the Pro*PL/I precompiler

Embedded SQL Terms

:host_variable

is a language variable declared according to the rules of the procedural language and used in a SQL statement. A host variable can be a predefined type or a user-defined array and can include an associated indicator variable.

You can only use host variables in place of numeric or character expressions. You must precede each host variable by a colon (:) to distinguish it from a schema object name. You cannot use host variables in place of SQL keywords or schema object names.

This manual also uses terms for host variables with specific datatypes, such as :host_integer and :host_string.

cursor

is an identifier for a cursor.

db_name

is an identifier for a non-default database.

db_string

is the database identification string for a SQL*Net connection. For more information about connect strings, see the SQL*Net documentation for your operating system.

statement_name block_name

designates an identifier for a SQL statement or PL/SQL block.