2
Basic Components

This chapter discusses the following topics:

• The LOB Datatype
  • Internal LOBs

  • External LOBs (BFILEs)

  • Internal LOBs Use Reference Semantics, External LOBs Use Copy Semantics

  • Varying-Width Character Data

• The LOB Locator
  • LOB Value and Locators

  • LOB Locator Operations

• Creating Tables that Contain LOBs
  • Initializing Internal LOBs to NULL or Empty

  • Initializing Internal LOB Columns to a Value

  • Initializing External LOBs to NULL or a File Name

Note: Examples in this chapter are based on the Multimedia_tab schema and table Multimedia_tab, which are described in Chapter 8, "Sample Application".