Declaring and using host variables

About this task

In applications, the SQL statements can refer to the contents of host variables. A host variable is an ESQL/C program variable that you use to transfer information between the program and the database.

You can use host variables in expressions in the same way that you use literal values except that they cannot be used:
  • In prepared statements
  • In stored procedures
  • In check constraints
  • In views
  • In triggers
  • As part of a string concatenation operation

To use a host variable in an SQL statement:

Procedure

  1. Declare the host variable in the C program.
  2. Assign a value to the host variable.
  3. Specify the host variable in an embedded SQL statement.