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%TYPE Attribute

The %TYPE attribute lets you declare a constant, variable, field, or parameter to be of the same data type a previously declared variable, field, record, nested table, or database column. If the referenced item changes, your declaration is automatically updated.

An item declared with %TYPE (the referencing item) always inherits the data type of the referenced item. The referencing item inherits the constraints only if the referenced item is not a database column. The referencing item inherits the default value only if the referencing item is not a database column and does not have the NOT NULL constraint.

Syntax

%type_attribute ::=

Description of the illustration type_attribute.gif

Keyword and Parameter Descriptions

collection_name

A nested table, index-by table, or varray previously declared within the current scope.

cursor_variable_name

A PL/SQL cursor variable previously declared within the current scope. Only the value of another cursor variable can be assigned to a cursor variable.

db_table_name.column_name

A table and column that must be accessible when the declaration is elaborated.

object_name

An instance of an object type, previously declared within the current scope.

record_name

A user-defined or %ROWTYPE record, previously declared within the current scope.

record_name.field_name

A field in a user-defined or %ROWTYPE record, previously declared within the current scope.

variable_name

A variable, previously declared in the same scope.

Examples

• Example 1-7, "Using a PL/SQL Collection Type"

• Example 2-10, "Using %TYPE to Declare Variables of the Types of Other Variables"

• Example 2-11, "Using %TYPE Incorrectly with NOT NULL Referenced Type"

• Example 2-12, "Using %TYPE Correctly with NOT NULL Referenced Type"

• Example 2-13, "Using %TYPE to Declare Variables of the Types of Table Columns"

• Example 2-23, "Using a Subprogram Name for Name Resolution"

• Example 2-17, "Assigning One Record to Another, Correctly and Incorrectly"

• Example 3-15, "Column Constraints Inherited by Subtypes"

• Example 5-5, "Declaring a Procedure Parameter as a Nested Table"

• Example 5-7, "Specifying Collection Element Types with %TYPE and %ROWTYPE"

• Example 5-42, "Declaring and Initializing Record Types"

• Example 6-1, "Data Manipulation with PL/SQL"

• Example 6-13, "Fetching Bulk Data with a Cursor"

Related Topics

• Constant

• %ROWTYPE Attribute

• Variable

• Using the %TYPE Attribute

• Constraints and Default Values with Subtypes