What is the Difference Between View and Stored Procedure?

The main difference between a view and a stored procedure lies in their purpose and functionality. Here are the key differences:

• View: A view represents a virtual table and is used to store commonly-used join queries and specific columns to build a virtual table of an exact set of data you want to see. Views are intended to provide an overview of a combination of data from different tables. They can only perform SELECT operations and are generally used for simplified querying and data retrieval.
• Stored Procedure: A stored procedure is a group of statements that can be executed, including but not limited to SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and other CRUD operations. Stored procedures are more complex and can perform multiple operations, such as inserting, updating, deleting, or selecting data. They can also accept parameters and use variables, with the ability to use control flow statements like IF, WHILE, or CASE. Stored procedures are primarily used for encapsulating complex logic and automating large SQL workflows.

In terms of performance, there is a common belief that stored procedures are faster than views, but tests indicate that their performance is fundamentally identical. Both views and stored procedures can simplify and optimize the database design and performance by encapsulating complex queries and logic in reusable and maintainable code.

Comparative Table: View vs Stored Procedure

Here is a table comparing the differences between views and stored procedures:

In summary, views are used for presenting data from multiple tables as if it were coming from a single table, while stored procedures are used for performing specific functions, such as updating or inserting data. Views are limited to SELECT statements and do not accept parameters, whereas stored procedures can include various CRUD operations and accept parameters to be tested and run.