select * from emp retrieves multiple records in emp.

but why do we use cursors to retrieve multiple records?can we band using cursors concept ?can any body expain the differences between select and cursor concept

and one thing is it is better that to use the cursor when u are trying to fetch less than 3% of records from the utilities.most of times set based operations can be used instead of cursors.what are set based operations.
regards
jayanth

So that we can fetch the records one bay one and process them as per user requirements.

whatis set based operations

Hi Jayanth,
UNION ALL,UNION,MINUS,INTERSECT All these are called set based operators,
And the work done by all them is called set based operations.

Dear jayath,

In pl/sql you can't access the result of select statement directly unless you bring it into variables using select into statement.

An sql query may return zero , one or more rows. If a query returns zero rows it raises no_data_found exception. If a query returns more than one row it raises too_many_rows exception.so it is must to declare explicit cursor to process multiple rows in pl/sql.

Whenever we execute dml statements oracle uses private sql area to store the information. Cusors concept allows you to name that private sql area and access information stored in it.

UNION ,UNION ALL ,MINUS,INTERSECT are called set operators.

I hope now it is clear to you.

Regards
krishna