Browse mode lets you search through a table and update its values one row at a time. It is used in front-end applications that use DB-Library and a host programming language. Browse mode provides compatibility with Open Server applications and older Open Client libraries. However, because cursors provide the same functionality in a more portable and flexible manner, Sybase discourages browse mode use in more recent Client-Library applications (versions 10.0.x and later). Additionally, browse mode is Sybase-specific, and therefore not suited to heterogeneous environments.
Normally, use cursors to update data when you want to change table values row by row. Client-Library applications can use Client-Library cursors to implement some browse-mode features, such as updating a table while fetching rows from it. However, cursors may cause locking contention in the tables being selected.
For more information on browse mode, see the dbqual function in the Open Client/Server documentation.
