A stored procedure is a precompiled set of SQL statements saved in the database catalog and executed on demand with an optional parameter list.
A stored procedure is a named, pre-compiled block of SQL that lives in the database catalog. It encapsulates logic—SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and control flow—so clients call it with CALL instead of sending raw SQL, boosting speed and security.
Stored procedures centralize business logic, reduce network round-trips, and leverage the database's optimizer. They harden security by granting EXECUTE rights while hiding table access, and they simplify version control for data operations.
Use CREATE PROCEDURE followed by the parameter list and body. MySQL wraps the body with BEGIN … END; PostgreSQL uses LANGUAGE plpgsql. Always specify deterministic behavior and required privileges.
Run CALL proc_name(arg1, arg2); in MySQL or SELECT * FROM proc_name(arg1, arg2); in PostgreSQL. The database returns result sets or OUT parameters exactly like a query.
Procedures support IN, OUT, and INOUT parameters. IN passes values to the procedure, OUT returns values, and INOUT does both. Use typed parameters—INT, VARCHAR, DATE—to ensure reliability.
A procedure can start, commit, or roll back transactions explicitly. Many engines wrap each call in an implicit transaction if no statements appear; explicit control ensures atomic multi-step operations.
Use RAISE NOTICE (PostgreSQL) or SIGNAL/SELECT statements (MySQL) for logging. Step-through debuggers in IDEs like Galaxy or pgAdmin let you inspect variables and breakpoints.
Keep procedures short, single-purpose, and idempotent. Validate inputs, avoid dynamic SQL when possible, and document parameter contracts. Version them in source control alongside application code.
Overloading procedures with business rules, hard-coding literals, and ignoring error handling lead to brittle code. Always handle exceptions and return clear status codes.
Galaxy’s desktop SQL editor offers IntelliSense for procedure bodies, AI Copilot to optimize logic, and one-click execution with parameter prompts. Share endorsed procedures via Collections and track edit history to audit changes.
Stored procedures let data engineers push compute to the database tier, cutting latency and bandwidth. Reusing pre-compiled logic enhances performance consistency and simplifies maintenance across microservices. They also enforce security boundaries by exposing only vetted entry points, a critical requirement for regulated industries.
Yes. In MySQL you can issue several SELECT statements; each becomes a separate result set. PostgreSQL can RETURN QUERY multiple times.
Usually, because it saves the execution plan and reduces network chatter, but gains vary by workload and indexing.
Open the procedure definition, rely on AI Copilot for suggestions, then save. Galaxy versions each change so you can roll back.
Yes, use frameworks like pgTAP or tSQLt to assert expected outcomes and keep procedures reliable.
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