What is a benefit of using stored procedures?

Using stored procedures offers several distinct advantages, particularly in terms of security. One of the primary benefits is that they can improve security by restricting direct access to tables. When developers enforce strict access rules, users can be granted permission to execute stored procedures without necessarily having direct access to the underlying tables. This separation ensures that sensitive data is protected and that users can interact with the database in a controlled manner, executing only predefined actions rather than having unrestricted access to data storage.

Stored procedures also allow for encapsulation of logic, enabling complex operations to be executed while hiding the underlying SQL code. This means that if the logic needs to change, the database administrator or developer can do so by modifying the stored procedure without impacting the users' interaction with the database. Overall, using stored procedures enhances both security and maintainability in a database environment.