Recordset

A recordset is a copy of records ( engl. data record ) from one or more tables for further processing, such as the on-screen display or transmission of separate applications in the database language. Such a recordset remains stable, even if the records affected change in the meantime, and is returned by a database as a result of a query.

It is used to generate from a database for the particular application optimized subsets, which are adapted to the subsequent processing. The recordset can any amount of data ( records and columns concerning, possibly from multiple tables ) included and corresponds to a virtual table.

Recordsets have the advantage that the appropriate selection and summary of the requested information as a rule is much faster than if the data is queried individually and combined in scripts outside the database. Moreover, the quantity reduced (usually less columns) of the returned data from the database and are ( fewer records or no additional selection required more generally ) less resources for processing in scripts needed. Especially for systems with high utilization by many requests or very large data sets significant performance gains can be achieved by optimizing the design of the recordset.

Example of a recordset

A recordset can contain data from active customers and consist of address data, combined with aggregate sales figures as well as the name of a contact person.

This information for all customers would be selected who bought in a pre-determined period something that all individual sales totaled and the name of the contact person added. The data can be displayed eg in a table row by row then then.

• Databases
• Data structure