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sqlsql-serverdatabase-cursor

What is the advantage of using FAST_FORWARD for defining a cursor?

What is the advantage of using FAST_FORWARD for defining a cursor? Is it better for performance? why?

Solution

  • The definition from MSDN is:

    Specifies a FORWARD_ONLY, READ_ONLY cursor with performance optimizations enabled. FAST_FORWARD cannot be specified if SCROLL or FOR_UPDATE is also specified. FAST_FORWARD and FORWARD_ONLY are mutually exclusive; if one is specified the other cannot be specified.

    I've boldened the key bit. It can support these "performance optimisations" because it does not need to support multi-direction iterating through the cursor (FORWARD_ONLY) and does not support modifications (READ_ONLY).

    Of course, if you don't really need to use a cursor at all - then using a cursor even with this option is not going to perform as well . If you can do the same task using a set-based approach, do that instead - this is the bit I really wanted to stress.