What is this called?

Ok, say you have a database with 16000 records in it, but you only want to call out say 2000 records at a time as the search/query is performed, then store the first 2000 in a session and then retrieve the next 2000 etc etc as a way to minimize server strain? (I'm tasked to do this and ....) 1. don't know what this is called to google it...partioning results/data ??? 2. Is there a better way to deal with retrieval of large amounts of data from a large table without choking the server..... 3. Is it possible at all.... Basically I need to know what it is I'm looking to do, it's not getting explained in an understandable way here....which makes google useless.... I love my job, I love my job....I love...my job...monday Monday monday