What does SQLScript provide in SAP HANA?

SQLScript is a procedural extension to SQL specifically designed for SAP HANA. It allows developers to write complex logic that goes beyond standard SQL capabilities. One of the key features of SQLScript is its ability to incorporate flow control logic, which includes constructs such as loops, conditionals, and variable declarations. This is essential for executing complex calculations, performing iterative operations, and handling business logic in a more sophisticated manner directly within the database layer.

While aggregation functions like AVG() are standard SQL features available in HANA, they do not fully represent the capabilities of SQLScript. Similarly, the creation of column tables is a structural aspect managed through SQL Data Definition Language (DDL) rather than through SQLScript itself. Client-side processing emphasizes data manipulation done outside the database context and does not leverage the strengths of SQLScript. Thus, the provision of flow control logic is what distinctly characterizes SQLScript's functionality in SAP HANA.