Summary  
This chapter explains how to create and call SQL stored procedures—including those with input and output parameters—using the `CALL` statement in MySQL and how to invoke them in application code via `MySqlCommand` with `ExecuteReader` or `ExecuteNonQuery`, handling parameter directions appropriately.  

General domain of usage  
Employee payroll reporting and management

### Important Points

- A **Stored Procedure** is a set of **SQL commands**. Each Stored Procedure has a **unique name**, and it acts like a function. Therefore, it can be called or executed like a function;
- Stored Procedures can be created using the `CREATE PROCEDURE` statement;
- Stored Procedures can be executed using the `CALL` statement;
- We can use the `ExecuteReader` or `ExecuteNonQuery` methods of the `MySqlCommand` object for calling a **Stored Procedure**;
- If the Stored Procedure has an **OUT parameter** (a parameter which has an `out` keyword before it), we need to manually specify the values for its arguments using the `AddWithValue` and `Add` methods of the `MySqlCommand`'s `Parameter` attribute;
- The direction of an `out` parameter of a Stored Procedure must be set to `ParameterDirection.Output` before executing the Stored Procedure.

The following Stored Procedure retrieves the names of the top three athletes based on their scores. What is the correct method of calling this Stored Procedure?

This course will give you a solid foundation to begin making applications using .NET in C#. Covering console applications, asynchronous programming, web services, database fundamentals, and ADO.NET CRUD operations, you'll gain practical skills. From creating apps and handling exceptions to optimizing database access, this course ensures a robust understanding of essential .NET development concepts.

This module will give you a solid foundation to begin making applications using .NET in C#. Covering console applications, asynchronous programming, web services, database fundamentals, and ADO.NET CRUD operations, you'll gain practical skills. From creating apps and handling exceptions to optimizing database access, this course ensures a robust understanding of essential .NET development concepts.

Stored Procedures

Important Points

1. What is a stored procedure?

2. The following Stored Procedure retrieves the names of the top three athletes based on their scores. What is the correct method of calling this Stored Procedure?