1.1 Introduction

The Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference is a quick reference guide to the PL/SQL programming language, which provides procedural extensions to the SQL relational database language and a range of Oracle development tools.

Where a package, program, or function is supported only for a particular version of Oracle (e.g., Oracle8i), we indicate this in the text.

The purpose of this pocket reference is to help PL/SQL users find the syntax of specific language elements. It is not a self-contained user guide; basic knowledge of the PL/SQL programming language is required. For more information, see the following books:

Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 2nd Edition, by Steven Feuerstein with Bill Pribyl (O'Reilly & Associates, 1997).

Oracle Built-in Packages, by Steven Feuerstein, Charles Dye, and John Beresniewicz (O'Reilly & Associates, 1998).

Oracle PL/SQL Built-ins Pocket Reference, by Steven Feuerstein, John Beresniewicz, and Chip Dawes (O'Reilly & Associates, 1998).