> 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/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-routine-limitations.md).

# Stored Routine Limitations

The following SQL statements are not permitted inside any [stored routines](/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines.md) ([stored functions](/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-functions.md), [stored procedures](/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-procedures.md), [events](/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/event-scheduler/events.md) or [triggers](/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/triggers.md)).

* [ALTER VIEW](/docs/server/server-usage/views/alter-view.md); you can use [CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW](/docs/server/server-usage/views/create-view.md) instead.
* [LOAD DATA](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/inserting-loading-data/load-data-into-tables-or-index/load-data-infile.md) and [LOAD TABLE](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/standard-replication/obsolete-replication-information/load-table-from-master-removed.md).
* [CHANGE MASTER TO](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/replication-statements/change-master-to.md)
* [INSERT DELAYED](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/inserting-loading-data/insert-delayed.md) is permitted, but the statement is handled as a regular [INSERT](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/inserting-loading-data/insert.md).
* [LOCK TABLES](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/transactions/lock-tables.md) and [UNLOCK TABLES](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/transactions/lock-tables.md).
* References to [local variables](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/declare-variable.md) within prepared statements inside a stored routine (use [user-defined variables](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/sql-language-structure/user-defined-variables.md) instead).
* [BEGIN (WORK)](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/transactions/start-transaction.md) is treated as the beginning of a [BEGIN END](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/begin-end.md) block, not a transaction, so [START TRANSACTION](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/transactions/start-transaction.md) needs to be used instead.
* The number of permitted recursive calls is limited to [max\_sp\_recursion\_depth](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#max_sp_recursion_depth). If this variable is 0 (default), recursivity is disabled. The limit does not apply to stored functions.
* Most statements that are not permitted in prepared statements are not permitted in stored programs. See [Prepare Statement:Permitted statements](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/prepared-statements/prepare-statement.md#permitted-statements) for a list of statements that can be used. [SIGNAL](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/signal.md), [RESIGNAL](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/resignal.md) and [GET DIAGNOSTICS](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-diagnostics/get-diagnostics.md) are exceptions, and may be used in stored routines.

There are also further limitations specific to the kind of stored routine.

Note that, if a stored program calls another stored program, the latter will inherit the caller's limitations. So, for example, if a stored procedure is called by a stored function, that stored procedure will not be able to produce a result set, because stored functions can't do this.

## See Also

* [Stored Function Limitations](/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-functions/stored-function-limitations.md)
* [Trigger Limitations](/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/triggers/trigger-limitations.md)
* [Event Limitations](/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/event-scheduler/event-limitations.md)

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