Subprograms and Packages: Usage Information

Oracle offers the capability to store programs in the database. This functionality enables commonly required code to be written and tested once and then accessed by any application that requires the code. Database-resident program units also ensure that the same processing is applied to the data when the code is invoked, making the development of applications easier and providing consistency between developers.

You can write database-resident programs in PL/SQL and manage source types such as PL/SQL packages, procedures, functions, and triggers. The actions include creating, compiling, creating synonyms for, granting privileges on, and showing dependencies for these source types.

The topic discusses the development of subprograms and packages with PL/SQL. It includes the following topics:

• Overview of PL/SQL Units

• Compiling PL/SQL Subprograms for Native Execution

• Cursor Variables

• Handling PL/SQL Compile-Time Errors

• Handling Run-Time PL/SQL Errors

• Debugging Stored Subprograms

• Invoking Stored Subprograms

• Invoking Remote Subprograms

• Invoking Stored PL/SQL Functions from SQL Statements

• Returning Large Amounts of Data from a Function

• Coding Your Own Aggregate Functions

• Oracle Product-Specific Packages