What is a stored procedure?

A stored procedure is best defined as a collection of SQL statements that are stored in a database for reuse. This functionality allows developers and database administrators to encapsulate complex operations within a single callable routine. When creating a stored procedure, you write a sequence of statements that can include control-of-flow elements (like loops and conditional statements), as well as data manipulation commands such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

The primary advantages of using stored procedures include improved performance, as they can be compiled and optimized by the database management system, and reduced network traffic since multiple commands can be executed with a single call. Furthermore, they enhance the modularization of code, making it easier to manage and maintain.

In contrast to this, the other options do not accurately describe what a stored procedure is. For example, a single SQL command that cannot be reused does not represent the concept of stored procedures. Similarly, a temporary table is a distinct concept used for creating tables that exist only during the session, while a command used to delete SQL databases pertains to database management operations rather than encapsulated commands for operations.