DESCRIBE -+-> statement-name --------------+----+
           +-> statement-id-parameter ------+    |
                                                 |
  +-------------------------<--------------------+
  |
  +--+----------------+-----> INTO descriptor-name --> ;
     +-> SELECT LIST -+
     +-> MARKERS -----+

Additional information available:

SELECT_LISTMARKERS

More Informationstatement namedescriptor name

 The DESCRIBE statement writes information about a prepared statement
 to the SQL Descriptor Area (SQLDA).  DESCRIBE is a dynamic SQL
 statement and can only be embedded in precompiled programs or
 included in procedures that are part of SQL modules.  It cannot be
 used in interactive SQL.

 The SQLDA is a collection of variables used only in dynamic SQL
 programs.  SQL supports the SQLDA for languages that support pointer
 variables.  The SQLDA provides information about dynamic SQL
 statements to the program and information about memory allocated by
 the program to SQL.

 DESCRIBE is the way SQL writes information that the program uses to
 the SQLDA.  Specifically, DESCRIBE stores in the SQLDA the number and
 data types of any output or input parameters in a prepared statement.

 The name of a prepared statement.

 If you specify SELECT LIST, the DESCRIBE statement writes information
 about the number and data types of any output parameters in the
 prepared statement to the SQLDA.

 SELECT LIST is the default.  If you do not specify either the SELECT
 LIST or MARKERS argument, it is the same as specifying SELECT LIST.

 If you specify MARKERS, the DESCRIBE statement writes information
 about the number and data types of any input parameters in the
 prepared statement to the SQLDA.

 SELECT LIST is the default.  If you do not specify either the SELECT
 LIST or MARKERS argument, it is the same as specifying SELECT LIST.

 Specifies the name of a structure declared in the host program as an
 SQLDA.  If the program is precompiled and uses the embedded SQL
 statement INCLUDE SQLDA, the name of the structure is simply SQLDA.
 If the program calls SQL modules containing procedures with DESCRIBE
 statements, it must explicitly declare a structure as the SQLDA.
 Programs can use multiple SQLDAs but must explicitly declare them
 with names other than SQLDA.