## 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

{{%ebnf%}}
  prepare_statement
{{%/ebnf%}}

## 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`](../perf_deallocate)
- [`EXECUTE`](../perf_execute)