Benefits of DB2 Stored Procedures | Generated by AI
Question: Why do we use stored procedures in DB2?
Answer:
Stored procedures in DB2 (both DB2 for z/OS and DB2 LUW) are widely used because they offer several important technical and architectural advantages compared to sending individual SQL statements from client applications.
Here are the main reasons organizations choose to use stored procedures in DB2:
-
Significantly reduced network traffic
Instead of sending many SQL statements over the network (especially in client-server or distributed applications), you make one CALL to the stored procedure. All logic runs on the database server → much less network round-trips and lower latency. - Better performance (especially in distributed environments)
- Native SQL stored procedures are pre-compiled and statically bound → faster execution than repeated dynamic SQL.
- Intermediate results stay on the server (no need to transfer large temporary datasets over the network).
- Ideal for complex multi-step business logic.
- Improved security
- Applications/users only need EXECUTE privilege on the stored procedure.
- No need to grant direct SELECT/INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE on underlying tables → better data protection (data access is encapsulated).
- Code centralization and reusability
- Business logic is stored once in the database → easier to maintain and update.
- Multiple applications (Java, .NET, COBOL, Python, etc.) can call the same procedure → avoids duplicating logic.
- Encapsulation of complex logic
- You can implement multi-statement transactions, error handling, cursors, conditional logic, loops, etc., inside the procedure (especially with SQL PL or native procedures).
- Client code becomes much simpler (just one CALL).
- Better transaction control and consistency
- All operations happen in one database transaction scope on the server.
- Support for returning result sets
- Procedures can open cursors and return result sets to the caller → very convenient for reporting and data retrieval.
- Language flexibility (especially in DB2 LUW and newer z/OS versions)
- You can write procedures in SQL PL (native), Java, COBOL, C, RPG, etc.
Typical use cases where stored procedures shine in DB2:
- Complex business rules / calculations
- Batch processing logic
- Data validation + insert/update in one atomic operation
- Reporting queries that join many tables
- Legacy modernization (moving logic from COBOL to DB)
- Microservices or API-style database access
Short summary — most common reasons people actually use them:
- Performance (network + execution speed)
- Security (least privilege)
- Maintainability (centralized logic)
References:
- IBM Db2 for z/OS - Implementing Db2 stored procedures
- IBM Db2 for z/OS - Advantages of using stored procedures
- IBM Redbooks - DB2 9 for z/OS Stored Procedures