In the previous chapter, you saw how you can store a SQL query in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) as a view, making it easy to access complex, shaped data without having to use a lengthy query. Stored procedures fulfill a similar role but do so in a much more powerful way. With stored procedures, you’re not limited to queries or even single statements. A single stored procedure could add a record, modify some data, perform some calculation or other, and return some data—all with a single command from the user. Unfortunately, they can’t make you dinner and record Buffy while you’re out shopping, but they’re pretty useful nevertheless.