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When to use functions and stored procedures

EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Karen Morton

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QUESTION POSED ON: 10 June 2003
Both stored procedures and functions can return something. Is there any guideline as to when I should use a procedure instead of a function? For example, for returning cursors, what's the advantage of using one over another?

EXPERT RESPONSE

I use functions to return computed values. I can call a function in a SELECT list (for example: SELECT my_function() FROM dual ;) as well as in PL/SQL.

I use procedures to return cursors or to do any type of procedural processing (step by step) where I don't necessarily care about returning a value, only that the steps happen successfully or not.

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