Table retrieval results usually span multiple rows. A cursor is used by a UAP to indicate the position from which the newest result is to be extracted one row at a time out of retrieval results that span multiple rows. A cursor can be used for retrieving, updating, and deleting data.

DECLARE CURSOR is specified in order to use a cursor. The OPEN statement is used to open a cursor, and the CLOSE statement is used to close a cursor. The FETCH statement advances the position of the cursor.