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Basic Elements of Oracle SQL

Once the whole is divided, the parts need names.

Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching: Thirty-Two

This chapter contains reference information on the basic elements of Oracle SQL. These elements are simplest building blocks of SQL statements. Therefore, before using the statements described in Chapter 7, "SQL Statements", you should familiarize yourself with the concepts covered in this chapter, as well as in Chapter 3, "Operators", Chapter 4, "Functions", Chapter 5, "Expressions, Conditions, and Queries", and Chapter 6, "About SQL Statements":

• Literals
  • Text

  • Integer

  • Number

  • Interval

• Datatypes

• Format Models

• Nulls

• Pseudocolumns

• Comments

• Database Objects

• Schema Object Names and Qualifiers

• Referring to Schema Objects and Parts