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# PL/pgSQL Record Types

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn about the PL/pgSQL record types, which enables you to define variables that can hold a single row from a result set.

## Introduction to PL/pgSQL record types

PostgreSQL provides a "type" called the `record` that is similar to the [row-type](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-row-types).

It's important to note that a record isn't a true type but rather a placeholder. Furthermore, the structure of a record variable will change when you reassign it to another value.

To declare a `record` variable, you simply use a variable name followed by the `record` keyword like this:

```plsql
variable_name record;
```

A `record` variable is similar to a [row-type variable](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-row-types), which can hold only one row of a result set.

Unlike a row-type variable, a `record` variable lacks a predefined structure. Instead, the structure of a `record` variable is determined when an actual row is assigned to it via the [`select`](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-select-into/) or [`for`](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-for-loop) statement.

To access a field in the record, you use the dot notation (`.`) syntax like this:

```plsql
record_variable.field_name;
```

If you attempt to access a field in a record variable before it's assigned, you'll encounter an error.

## PL/pgSQL record examples

Let's take some examples of using the record variables.

### 1) Using record with the select into statement

The following example illustrates how to use the record variable with the `select into` statement:

```plsql
do
$$
declare
	rec record;
begin
	-- select the film
	select film_id, title, length
	into rec
	from film
	where film_id = 200;

	raise notice '% % %', rec.film_id, rec.title, rec.length;

end;
$$
language plpgsql;
```

How it works.

- First, declare a record variable called `rec` in the declaration section.
- Second use the `select into` statement to select a row whose `film_id` is 200 into the `rec` variable
- Third, print out the information of the film via the record variable.

### 2) Using record variables in the for loop statement

The following shows how to use a record variable in a `for loop` statement:

```plsql
do
$$
declare
	rec record;
begin
	for rec in select title, length
			from film
			where length > 50
			order by length
	loop
		raise notice '% (%)', rec.title, rec.length;
	end loop;
end;
$$;
```

Here is the partial output:

```
NOTICE:  Hall Cassidy (51)
NOTICE:  Champion Flatliners (51)
NOTICE:  Deep Crusade (51)
NOTICE:  Simon North (51)
NOTICE:  English Bulworth (51)
...
```

Note that you will learn more about the [`for loop`](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-for-loop) statement in the [for-loop tutorial](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-for-loop).

How it works:

- First, declare a variable named r with the type `record`.
- Second, use the `for loop` statement to fetch rows from the `film` table (in the [sample database](../postgresql-getting-started/postgresql-sample-database)). The `for loop` statement assigns the row that consists of `title` and `length` to the `rec` variable in each iteration.
- Third, show the contents of the fields of the record variable by using the dot notation (`rec.title` and `rec.length`)

## Summary

- A record is a placeholder that can hold a single row of a result set.
- A record does not have a predefined structure like a row variable. Its structure is determined when you assign a row to it.

---

## Related docs (PostgreSQL PL/pgSQL)

- [Introduction](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/introduction-to-postgresql-stored-procedures)
- [Block Structure](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-block-structure)
- [Variables](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-variables)
- [Constants](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-constants)
- [IF-ELSE Statements](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-if-else-statements)
- [CASE Statement](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-case-statement)
- [Loop Statements](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-loop-statements)
- [FOR Loop](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-for-loop)
- [WHILE Loop](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-while-loop)
- [EXIT Statement](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-exit)
- [CONTINUE Statement](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-continue)
- [Cursor](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-cursor)
- [Function Parameters](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-function-parameters)
- [Function Overloading](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-function-overloading)
- [Function Returns Table](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-function-returns-a-table)
- [Returns SETOF](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-returns-setof)
- [Row Types](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-row-types)
- [Error Messages](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/plpgsql-errors-messages)
- [Exception Handling](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-exception)
- [CREATE FUNCTION](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-create-function)
- [CREATE PROCEDURE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-create-procedure)
- [DROP FUNCTION](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-drop-function)
- [DROP PROCEDURE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-drop-procedure)
- [Stored Procedure with INOUT Parameters](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/postgresql-stored-procedure-with-inout-parameters)
- [Introduction to Stored Procedures](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/introduction-to-postgresql-stored-procedures)
- [SELECT INTO](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-select-into)
- [ASSERT Statement](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/pl-pgsql-assert)
- [Dollar-Quoted String Constants](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-plpgsql/dollar-quoted-string-constants)