Re: OUT parameter

Daniel Caune wrote:

> Is there any suggestion against using OUT parameter for local
> calculation such as using a local variable?
>
> CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION foo(a IN int,
>                                b1 OUT int,
>                                b2 OUT int)
> AS $$
> BEGIN
>   FOR (...) LOOP
>     b1 = (...);
>     b2 = (...);
>   END LOOP;
> END;
> $$ LANGUAGE PLPGSQL;

I'd say there's no problem with this, PROVIDED you can ensure you'll never abort before completing the computation.
It'snot a good idea to modify out parameters partway; programmers (myself included) have this nasty habit of assuming,
rightlyor wrongly, that a failed function call won't have destroyed the parameters. 

If you can't ensure you'll always complete, use locals.

-Owen