What is the purpose of a temporary table in a database?

Temporary tables in a database are a special type of table used to store temporary data or temporary result sets within the database. Their main purpose includes:

1. Storing temporary data: Temporary tables can be used to store temporary data, such as intermediate result sets needed in a complex query. Storing these data in temporary tables makes it easier for subsequent queries and processing.
2. Improving performance: By using temporary tables, you can avoid repeatedly calculating the same data, thereby enhancing query performance and reducing execution time for complex queries, ultimately improving database query efficiency.
3. Managing Data: Temporary tables can be used to manage data, such as storing processed data during data cleaning, data transformation, etc., making it convenient for subsequent data processing and analysis.
4. Transaction processing: Temporary tables can be used to handle database transactions. When certain data needs to be temporarily stored during a transaction, temporary tables can be used to achieve transaction rollback and commit operations.

In general, the purpose of temporary tables in a database is to provide a temporary storage container for data, making it easier to handle temporary data, improve query performance, and manage data operations.