---
title: "PREPARE"
url: "https://docs.yugabyte.com/stable/api/ysql/the-sql-language/statements/perf_prepare/"
---

# PREPARE

Use the PREPARE statement to create a handle to a prepared statement by parsing, analyzing, and rewriting (but not executing) the target statement.

## Synopsis

Use the `PREPARE` statement to create a handle to a prepared statement by parsing, analyzing, and rewriting (but not executing) the target statement.

## Syntax

- [![Grammar Icon](/icons/file-lines.svg)Grammar](#grammar-2)
- [![Diagram Icon](/icons/diagram.svg)Diagram](#diagram-2)

```output.ebnf
prepare_statement ::= PREPARE name [ ( data_type [ , ... ] ) ] AS 
                      subquery
```

#### prepare\_statement

PREPARE[name](/stable/api/ysql/syntax_resources/grammar_diagrams#name)(,[data\_type](/stable/api/ysql/syntax_resources/grammar_diagrams#data-type))AS[subquery](/stable/api/ysql/syntax_resources/grammar_diagrams#subquery)

## Semantics

- The statement in `PREPARE` may (should) contain parameters (e.g. `$1`) that will be provided by the expression list in `EXECUTE`.
- The data type list in `PREPARE` represent the types for the parameters used in the statement.

## Examples

Create a sample table.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# CREATE TABLE sample(k1 int, k2 int, v1 int, v2 text, PRIMARY KEY (k1, k2));
```

Prepare a simple insert.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# PREPARE ins (bigint, double precision, int, text) AS
               INSERT INTO sample(k1, k2, v1, v2) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4);
```

Execute the insert twice (with different parameters).

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# EXECUTE ins(1, 2.0, 3, 'a');
```

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# EXECUTE ins(2, 3.0, 4, 'b');
```

Check the results.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# SELECT * FROM sample ORDER BY k1;
```

```
 k1 | k2 | v1 | v2
----+----+----+----
  1 |  2 |  3 | a
  2 |  3 |  4 | b
(2 rows)
```

## See also

- [DEALLOCATE](/stable/api/ysql/the-sql-language/statements/perf_deallocate "DEALLOCATE")
- [EXECUTE](/stable/api/ysql/the-sql-language/statements/perf_execute "EXECUTE")