Language Usage / Control Structures / CURSOR or Language Usage / Variables & Types / General
Avoid usage of weak REF CURSOR types

from SonarCube

Weak "REF CURSOR" types should not be used

Weak REF CURSOR types are harder to work with than ones with a return type. Indeed, the compiler's type-checker is unable to make some verifications, which are then delayed till runtime.

When the use of weak REF CURSOR is required, it is best to use the SYS_REFCURSOR built-in type instead of defining a new one.

This rule's sysRefCursorAllowed parameter can be used to control whether or not the usage of SYS_REFCURSOR is allowed.

Noncompliant Code Example

DECLARE
  TYPE dualCursorType IS REF CURSOR;
  dualCursor dualCursorType;

  otherCursor SYS_REFCURSOR;                              -- Compliant or non-compliant, depending on the "sysRefCursorAllowed" parameter
BEGIN
  otherCursor := dualCursor;                              -- Works
END;

Compliant Solution

DECLARE
  TYPE dualCursorType IS REF CURSOR RETURN DUAL%ROWTYPE;
  dualCursor dualCursorType;

  TYPE otherCursorType IS REF CURSOR RETURN a%ROWTYPE;
  otherCursor otherCursorType;
BEGIN
  otherCursor := dualCursor;                              -- raises PLS-00382: expression is of wrong type, which makes debugging easier
END;