# Common Table Expressions (CTE)

- [Recursive Common Table Expressions Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/recursive-common-table-expressions-overview.md): Process hierarchical data using recursive CTEs. These expressions reference themselves to repeatedly execute a subquery, perfect for traversing tree structures or generating sequences.
- [Non-Recursive Common Table Expressions Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/non-recursive-common-table-expressions-overview.md): Define simple temporary result sets. Non-recursive CTEs act like query-local views, improving readability by allowing you to define and reuse subqueries within a single statement.
- [WITH](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions/with.md): Complete WITH clause reference: WITH \[RECURSIVE] AS (SELECT...) syntax, recursive CTE support, CYCLE...RESTRICT cycle detection, and max\_recursive\_iterations.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/common-table-expressions.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.