What do you understand by PL/SQL packages?

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A PL/SQL package can be specified as a file that groups functions, cursors, stored procedures, and variables in one place.

In PL/SQL, a package is a database object that groups related functions, procedures, variables, and other constructs together as a single, named unit. It is a way to organize and modularize code in the Oracle Database. A PL/SQL package consists of two parts:

  1. Package Specification: This is the interface to the application and contains declarations of types, variables, constants, exceptions, cursors, and subprograms. It defines the public interface to the package.
  2. Package Body: This contains the actual implementation of the procedures and functions declared in the package specification. It includes the executable code for the package.

Packages help in encapsulating and organizing code, promoting modularity, reusability, and maintainability in large database applications. They also provide a level of security by controlling access to the packaged constructs, allowing only the public interface to be accessible from outside the package.