Can MySQL Use Table Variables, and If Not, What's the Alternative?

Table Variables in MySQL: A Closer Look

In the realm of MySQL, table variables, a staple feature in other database systems, may seem like an elusive concept. The question arises: is it possible to create table variables in MySQL?

While traditional table variables are not a reality in MySQL, there is a workaround that involves leveraging temporary tables. Temporary tables provide a practical alternative for storing specific rows from a table within a procedure.

Creating and Utilizing Temporary Tables

To create a temporary table, simply include the TEMPORARY keyword in your CREATE TABLE statement. For instance:

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE TempTable (
  myid int,
  myfield varchar(100)
);

You can then populate the temporary table with data from an existing table using INSERT:

INSERT INTO TempTable SELECT tblid, tblfield FROM Table1;

Once the temporary table is created and populated, you can work with it within your procedure, performing operations such as querying, updating, and deleting as needed.

Note: Temporary tables are automatically dropped when the connection is closed. This isolation feature ensures that different connections using the same temporary table name do not conflict with each other or with existing non-temporary tables of the same name.

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