Temporary Table
A temporary table is a database object that exists temporarily in a database session or transaction, used to store intermediate results during complex queries or data processing. It is automatically dropped when the session ends or the transaction completes, depending on the database system. Temporary tables help improve performance by reducing query complexity and enabling data manipulation without affecting permanent tables.
Developers should use temporary tables when handling large datasets that require multiple-step transformations, such as in ETL processes, reporting, or complex joins, as they isolate intermediate results and avoid locking permanent tables. They are particularly useful in SQL-based systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server for optimizing query performance and managing session-specific data, such as in stored procedures or batch jobs.