A list of some notable characteristics:
- PL/SQL is a block-structured language.
- It is portable to all environments that support Oracle.
- PL/SQL is integrated with the Oracle data dictionary.
- Stored procedures help better sharing of application
PL/SQL (Procedural Language/Structured Query Language) is Oracle Corporation’s procedural language extension for SQL. The most important characteristics of PL/SQL include:
- Block Structure: PL/SQL programs are organized into blocks, which can be anonymous or named. A block consists of declarations, executable statements, and exception handlers.
- Procedural Constructs: PL/SQL supports procedural constructs such as loops (FOR, WHILE), conditional statements (IF-THEN-ELSE), and exception handling, allowing for the creation of structured and modular code.
- Data Types: PL/SQL supports a variety of data types, including scalar (VARCHAR2, NUMBER), composite (record, table), and reference types. This enables the manipulation of different kinds of data within the program.
- Exception Handling: PL/SQL provides robust error handling mechanisms through the use of exception blocks. Developers can define custom exceptions and handle errors gracefully, enhancing the reliability of the code.
- SQL Integration: PL/SQL is tightly integrated with SQL, allowing seamless interaction with the database. SQL statements can be embedded within PL/SQL code, and PL/SQL blocks can be executed as part of SQL queries.
- Modularity: PL/SQL promotes modular programming through the use of procedures, functions, and packages. This helps in organizing code into reusable and maintainable units.
- Cursor Management: PL/SQL supports explicit cursors for precise control over query result sets. Cursors are used to fetch, update, and delete records from the database.
- Triggers: PL/SQL can be used to create database triggers, which are special types of stored procedures that are automatically executed in response to specific events like INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE.
- Security: PL/SQL provides features for securing data and code. Developers can define and control access to specific procedures, functions, and packages, enhancing the security of the application.
- Transaction Control: PL/SQL supports transaction control statements (COMMIT, ROLLBACK, SAVEPOINT) to manage transactions and ensure data integrity.
These characteristics collectively make PL/SQL a powerful and flexible language for developing stored procedures, functions, and triggers in Oracle Database environments.