### 13.6.6 Cursors

[13.6.6.1 Cursor CLOSE Statement](close.html)
[13.6.6.2 Cursor DECLARE Statement](declare-cursor.html)
[13.6.6.3 Cursor FETCH Statement](fetch.html)
[13.6.6.4 Cursor OPEN Statement](open.html)
[13.6.6.5 Restrictions on Server-Side Cursors](cursor-restrictions.html)

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 MySQL supports cursors inside stored programs. The syntax is as in embedded SQL. Cursors have these properties:

* Asensitive: The server may or may not make a copy of its result table

* Read only: Not updatable

* Nonscrollable: Can be traversed only in one direction and cannot skip rows

 Cursor declarations must appear before handler declarations and after variable and condition declarations.

 Example:

```
CREATE PROCEDURE curdemo()
BEGIN
  DECLARE done INT DEFAULT FALSE;
  DECLARE a CHAR(16);
  DECLARE b, c INT;
  DECLARE cur1 CURSOR FOR SELECT id,data FROM test.t1;
  DECLARE cur2 CURSOR FOR SELECT i FROM test.t2;
  DECLARE CONTINUE HANDLER FOR NOT FOUND SET done = TRUE;

  OPEN cur1;
  OPEN cur2;

  read_loop: LOOP
    FETCH cur1 INTO a, b;
    FETCH cur2 INTO c;
    IF done THEN
      LEAVE read_loop;
    END IF;
    IF b < c THEN
      INSERT INTO test.t3 VALUES (a,b);
    ELSE
      INSERT INTO test.t3 VALUES (a,c);
    END IF;
  END LOOP;

  CLOSE cur1;
  CLOSE cur2;
END;
```

