SQL EXEC Keyword

 The EXEC keyword in SQL is used to execute a stored procedure, dynamic SQL, or a system-defined procedure. It allows you to invoke a predefined set of SQL statements that are stored in the database or dynamically created at runtime.

Syntax

To execute a stored procedure:

EXEC procedure_name [parameter1, parameter2, ...];

or

EXECUTE procedure_name [parameter1, parameter2, ...];

To execute dynamic SQL:

EXEC ('dynamic SQL statement');

or

EXECUTE ('dynamic SQL statement');

Examples

Executing a Stored Procedure

Suppose you have a stored procedure named GetEmployeeDetails that accepts an EmployeeID parameter:

EXEC GetEmployeeDetails 123;

Using EXEC with Named Parameters

EXEC GetEmployeeDetails @EmployeeID = 123;

Executing Dynamic SQL

You can use EXEC to execute a string containing an SQL statement:

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(1000);
SET @sql = 'SELECT * FROM Employees WHERE Department = ''Sales''';
EXEC(@sql);

Notes

• The EXEC keyword is supported in many SQL-based systems, including Microsoft SQL Server. In some databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL), the syntax or keyword might differ.
• When using EXEC to execute dynamic SQL, ensure that input is sanitized to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities.
• Some database systems allow you to use other variations, such as sp_executesql in SQL Server, which offers additional flexibility with parameterized queries.

Would you like details on a specific use case?