Accessing One or More Databases with SQL

Databases can be accessed with SQL using any of the following methods:

Host variables—Variables that can be referenced in SQL statements in application programs
Local variables and routine parameters—Variables that can be referenced in SQL statements in SQL routines
SQL transaction—A database transaction initiated by an SQL statement
SQL session—A connection to a dictionary that enables SQL access to a database
SQL Communications Areas—Data structures the program uses to check the status of SQL statement execution