What is cursor in SQL Server with example.

A cursor is a set of rows together with a pointer that identifies a current row.

Or

Cursor is a database object used by applications to manipulate data in a set on a row-by-row basis, its like recordset in the ASP and visual basic.

Cursor Example:

A New Table Employee_Data Created.

CREATE TABLE Employee_Data
(
Emp_ID INT Identity,
Emp_name Varchar(100),
Emp_Sal Decimal (10,2)
)

Data Inserted in Table

INSERT INTO Employee_Data VALUES ('Anees',1000);
INSERT INTO Employee_Data VALUES ('Rick',1200);
INSERT INTO Employee_Data VALUES ('John',1100);
INSERT INTO Employee_Data VALUES ('Stephen',1300);
INSERT INTO Employee_Data VALUES ('Sudhanshu Ranjan',1700);


Select * from Employee_Data

New Cursor Created -

Declare @Emp_ID as INT
Declare @Emp_name as varchar(100)
Declare @Emp_Sal as Decimal (10,2)
 
Declare MY_CURSOR CURSOR FOR
 
Select Emp_name from  Employee_Data (Nolock)
 
OPEN MY_CURSOR
    FETCH NEXT FROM MY_CURSOR INTO @Emp_name
        WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
        BEGIN
 -------------Perform Task here on Row by Row Basis---------
            PRINT @Emp_name-- 
 
        FETCH NEXT FROM MY_CURSOR INTO @Emp_name
        END
    CLOSE MY_CURSOR
DEALLOCATE MY_CURSOR

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