How does PreparedStatement impact performance or memory usage?

PreparedStatement is a powerful feature in Java that allows you to execute SQL statements with greater efficiency and security. It precompiles the SQL statement, which can significantly impact performance, especially when executing the same SQL statement multiple times with different parameters.

When using PreparedStatement, the SQL queries are sent to the database to be compiled only once. This behavior reduces the overhead associated with parsing and compiling SQL statements for every execution, thus improving performance. Additionally, it helps prevent SQL injection attacks, making applications more secure.

However, one must be aware of how PreparedStatement uses memory. Since it maintains a cache for precompiled statements, in scenarios with a high number of different statements, it can lead to increased memory usage. It is crucial to manage the lifecycle of PreparedStatements properly, using methods like close() to free up resources when statements are no longer needed.

In summary, while PreparedStatement can improve performance by reducing execution time and protecting against SQL injections, it may also increase memory usage if not managed properly.