Inline functions: When an SQL table function is inlined, instead of invoking the function as part of a query, the fullselect in the RETURN statement of the function may be copied (inlined) into the query itself. Such a function is called an inline function. A table function is an inline function if:

• The SQL function is defined as NO EXTERNAL ACTION.
• The SQL-routine-body contains only a RETURN statement.
• No column in the result table is the XML data type.
• All objects referenced in the function exist when the function is created.
• The SQL-routine-body does not contain a common table expression that references an input parameter.

An inline function is only copied (inlined) into a query if:

• The query is eligible for the SQL Query Engine (SQE).
• The function does not reference a table on a different server.
• The function references an object and the authority attributes of the function and the query are compatible based on one of the following conditions:
  • The function is defined to run under the user's authority (*USER).
  • The query is running under the owner's authority (*OWNER) and the owner of the query is the same as the owner of the function.
  • The query is running under the user's authority (*USER), and the user or the user's group profile is the same as the owner of the function.
  Note: If the function is defined as FENCED, the query must not use adopted authority. If the query runs under the owner's authority (*OWNER) and the function runs under the user’s authority (*USER), the owner of the query must be the same as the user or the user's group profile.

When a function is inlined, some of the options specified when the function was created are ignored:

• PARALLEL or NOT PARALLEL
• MODIFIES SQL DATA
• Commitment control level
• CONCURRENT ACCESS RESOLUTION
• ALWCPYDTA
• ATOMIC or NOT ATOMIC