> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/for.md).

# FOR

## Syntax

Integer range `FOR` loop:

```bnf
[begin_label:]
FOR var_name IN [ REVERSE ] lower_bound .. upper_bound
DO statement_list
END FOR [ end_label ]
```

Explicit cursor `FOR` loop:

```sql
[begin_label:]
FOR record_name IN cursor_name [ ( cursor_actual_parameter_list)]
DO statement_list
END FOR [ end_label ]
```

Explicit cursor `FOR` loop ([Oracle mode](/docs/release-notes/community-server/about/compatibility-and-differences/sql_modeoracle.md)):

```sql
[begin_label:]
FOR record_name IN cursor_name [ ( cursor_actual_parameter_list)]
LOOP
  statement_list
END LOOP [ end_label ]
```

Implicit cursor `FOR` loop:

```sql
[begin_label:]
FOR record_name IN ( select_statement )
DO statement_list
END FOR [ end_label ]
```

## Description

`FOR` loops allow code to be executed a fixed number of times.

In an integer range `FOR` loop, MariaDB will compare the lower bound and upper bound values, and assign the lower bound value to a counter. If `REVERSE` is not specified, and the upper bound value is greater than or equal to the counter, the counter will be incremented and the statement will continue, after which the loop is entered again. If the upper bound value is greater than the counter, the loop will be exited.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Dynamic Cursors Limitation**

`FOR` loops cannot be used with dynamic cursors (cursors declared for prepared statement names). To handle dynamic cursors, employ explicit `OPEN`, `FETCH`, and `CLOSE` statements inside a `LOOP` or similar construct.
{% endhint %}

If REVERSE is specified, the counter is decremented, and the upper bound value needs to be less than or equal for the loop to continue.

## Examples

Integer range `FOR` loop:

```sql
CREATE TABLE t1 (a INT);

DELIMITER //

FOR i IN 1..3
DO
  INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (i);
END FOR;
//

DELIMITER ;

SELECT * FROM t1;
+------+
| a    |
+------+
|    1 |
|    2 |
|    3 |
+------+
```

`REVERSE` integer range `FOR` loop:

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE t1 (a INT);

DELIMITER //
FOR i IN REVERSE 4..12
    DO
    INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (i);
END FOR;
//
Query OK, 9 rows affected (0.422 sec)


DELIMITER ;

SELECT * FROM t1;
+------+
| a    |
+------+
|   12 |
|   11 |
|   10 |
|    9 |
|    8 |
|    7 |
|    6 |
|    5 |
|    4 |
+------+
```

Explicit cursor in [Oracle mode](/docs/release-notes/community-server/about/compatibility-and-differences/sql_modeoracle.md):

```sql
SET sql_mode=ORACLE;

CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE t1 (a INT, b VARCHAR(32));

INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (10,'b0');
INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (11,'b1');
INSERT INTO t1 VALUES (12,'b2');

DELIMITER //

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE p1(pa INT) AS 
  CURSOR cur(va INT) IS
    SELECT a, b FROM t1 WHERE a=va;
BEGIN
  FOR rec IN cur(pa)
  LOOP
    SELECT rec.a, rec.b;
  END LOOP;
END;
//

DELIMITER ;

CALL p1(10);
+-------+-------+
| rec.a | rec.b |
+-------+-------+
|    10 | b0    |
+-------+-------+

CALL p1(11);
+-------+-------+
| rec.a | rec.b |
+-------+-------+
|    11 | b1    |
+-------+-------+

CALL p1(12);
+-------+-------+
| rec.a | rec.b |
+-------+-------+
|    12 | b2    |
+-------+-------+

CALL p1(13);
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.000 sec)
```

## See Also

* [LOOP](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/loop.md)

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{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}