This illustration shows a flowchart for choosing the right method.

Might it be a query? If yes, might its select list contain an unknown number of items? If yes, choose method 4. If no, might it contain an unknown number of input host variables? If yes, choose method 4. If no, choose method 3.

If it is not a query, might it contain input host variables? If no, will it be executed repeatedly? If yes, choose method 2. If no, choose method 1. If it might contain input host variables, might it contain an unknown number of input host variables? If yes, choose method 4. If no, choose method 2.