The SQL Descriptor Area (SQLDA) is a collection of variables
used only in dynamic SQL programs.
Dynamic SQL lets programs accept or generate SQL statements at
run time, in contrast to precompiled statements which must be
embedded in the program before it is compiled. Unlike embedded
statements, such dynamically-executed SQL statements are not
necessarily part of the program's source code, but can be
created while the program is running. Dynamic SQL is useful
when you cannot predict the type of SQL statement your program
will need to process.
SQL supports the SQLDA for languages that support pointer
variables only. The SQLDA provides information about dynamic
SQL statements (the number and data type of a prepared
statement's input and output parameters) to the program and
information about memory allocated by the program (the addresses
of input and output parameters) to SQL.
See the appendix on the SQLDA in the Reference Manual for
detailed information.