Oracle SQL and PL/SQL are essential components of Oracle’s database technology. While both are used for interacting with databases, they serve different purposes and have unique features.
Oracle SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard language used to query, manipulate, and define data in a database. It’s primarily used for:
Querying Data: SQL allows you to retrieve data from one or more tables using statements like SELECT. Find out more about managing users in Oracle SQL user management.
Data Manipulation: With SQL, you can insert, update, or delete data within a database.
Data Definition: You can create or modify the structure of database objects using SQL.
To learn about displaying table descriptions in Oracle SQL, visit Oracle SQL table description.
PL/SQL (Procedural Language/SQL) is Oracle Corporation’s procedural extension for SQL. It is used for:
Procedural Programming: Unlike SQL, PL/SQL supports loops, conditions, and variables, allowing for more complex and iterative programming.
Stored Procedures and Functions: PL/SQL lets you create stored procedures, functions, and triggers, which are reusable code blocks.
Error Handling: PL/SQL provides error-checking capabilities with its exception handling features.
If you are interested in learning about joining data using Oracle SQL, check out how to join data from two views.
In summary, the key difference between Oracle SQL and PL/SQL is that SQL is a non-procedural language focused on queries and data manipulation, whereas PL/SQL is a procedural language designed to extend SQL’s capabilities with procedural constructs.
For more insights and articles on Oracle SQL, visit Oracle SQL Articles.