What is a stored procedure?

• A. A type of database index.
• B. A temporary table.
• C. A saved query used to retrieve or modify information within a database.
• D. A client-side script that runs in the browser.

Answer: (C)

Stored procedures are server-side routines saved in the database that encapsulate SQL statements and optional logic. They’re precompiled, stored for reuse, and invoked with a single call, often with input or output parameters. This matches the idea of a saved query used to retrieve or modify information within a database, because a stored procedure can perform selects, inserts, updates, or deletes as a single, reusable operation. They run on the database server rather than in the client, which is why they’re more efficient for data access and help enforce consistent logic. They’re not a database index (an index speeds lookups) and not a temporary table (a temporary table is a data store used during a session). Stored procedures also reduce round-trips between application and server and can improve security by restricting direct table access.