# OPEN

## Syntax

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```sql
OPEN cursor_name [[USING variable[,...]] | [expression[,...]]];
```

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```sql
OPEN cursor_variable FOR dynamic_sql_string;
```

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```sql
OPEN cursor_name
```

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## Description

This statement opens a [cursor](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors) which was previously declared with [DECLARE CURSOR](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/declare-cursor).

The query associated to the `DECLARE CURSOR` is executed when `OPEN` is executed. It is important to remember this if the query produces an error, or calls functions which have side effects.

This is necessary in order to [FETCH](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/fetch) rows from a cursor.

See [Cursor Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/cursor-overview) for an example.

## See Also

* [Cursor Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/cursor-overview)
* [DECLARE CURSOR](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/declare-cursor)
* [FETCH cursor\_name](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/fetch)
* [CLOSE cursor\_name](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors/close)
* [Cursors in Oracle mode](https://app.gitbook.com/s/aEnK0ZXmUbJzqQrTjFyb/community-server/about/compatibility-and-differences/sql_modeoracle)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

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