# Stored Routine Limitations

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

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

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