DBMS: Cursors (Definitions)

"A symbolic name associated with a Transact-SQL select statement through a declaration statement. Cursors consist of two parts: the cursor result set and the cursor position." (Karen Paulsell et al, "Sybase SQL Server: Performance and Tuning Guide", 1996)

"Database objects with which applications manipulate data by rows instead of by sets. Using cursors, multiple operations can be performed row-by-row against a result set with or without returning to the original table. For example, a cursor can generate a list of all user-defined table names within a database. Cursors are extremely powerful when combined with stored procedures and the EXECUTE statement." (Patrick Dalton, "Microsoft SQL Server Black Book", 1997)

"An object used to navigate through  records." (Rob Scrimger et al, "MCSE TestPrep: SQL Server 6.5  Administration", 1998)

"A database object used by applications to manipulate data by rows instead of by sets. Using cursors, multiple operations can be performed row by row against a result set with or without returning to the original table. In other words, cursors conceptually return a result set based on tables within the database(s)." (Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 System Administration Training Kit", 1999)

"An entity that maps over a result set and establishes a position on a single row within the result set. After the cursor is positioned on a row, operations can be performed on that row, or on a block of rows starting at that position. The most common operation is to fetch (retrieve) the current row or block of rows." (Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft SQL Server 2000 System Administration", 2001)

"A marker that indicates the current position within a result set." (Peter Gulutzan & Trudy Pelzer, "SQL Performance Tuning", 2002)

"An entity that maps over a result set and establishes a position on a single row within the result set." (Anthony Sequeira & Brian Alderman, "The SQL Server 2000 Book", 2003)

"A construct that holds a rowset from a SELECT statement, which can then be stepped through row by row for various operations." (Thomas Moore, "EXAM CRAM™ 2: Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition", 2005)

"Queries in SQL Server return a block of rows called a recordset . A cursor is a subset of a recordset with the added ability to move back and forth through the records." (Joseph L Jorden & Dandy Weyn, "MCTS Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Implementation and Maintenance Study Guide - Exam 70-431", 2006)

"A pointer to the result set of a query. Clients can iterate through a cursor to retrieve results." (MongoDb, 2008)

"An object that allows a program to work through the records returned by a query one at a time. Some databases allow cursors to move forward and backward through the set of returned records whereas others allow only forward movement." (Rod Stephens, "Beginning Database Design Solutions", 2008)

"A moving placement or pointer that indicates a position, used in programs to overcome the impedance mismatch between SQL (set-at-a-time processing) and application programs (record-at-a-time processing)." (Craig S Mullins, "Database Administration", 2012)

"A database element that controls record navigation, updateability of data, and the visibility of changes made to the database by other users." (Microsoft) 

"A handle or name for a private SQL area in the PGA. Because cursors are closely associated with private SQL areas, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably." (Oracle)

"A named control structure used by an application program to point to and select a row of data from a set." (IBM)

"A piece of software that returns rows of data to the application." (Microsoft) 

"A symbolic name that is associated with a SQL statement. In Embedded SQL, a cursor is a data selector that passes multiple rows of data to the host program, one row at a time." (Sybase)

"An embedded SQL query that returns multiple rows." (Microfocus) 

"An internal MySQL data structure that represents the result set of an SQL statement. Often used with prepared statements and dynamic SQL. It works like an iterator in other high-level languages, producing each value from the result set as requested." (MySQL)