About Oracle Database Access

You can access Oracle Database only through a client program such as SQL*Plus or SQL Developer.

The client program’s interface to Oracle Database is Structured Query Language (SQL). Oracle provides an extension to SQL called Procedural Language/SQL (PL/SQL).

About SQL*Plus

SQL*Plus (pronounced sequel plus) is an interactive and batch query tool that is installed with every Oracle Database installation. It has a command-line user interface that acts as the client when connecting to the database.

SQL*Plus has its own commands and environment. In the SQL*Plus environment, you can enter and run SQL*Plus commands, SQL statements, PL/SQL statements, and operating system commands to perform the following tasks:

You can use SQL*Plus to generate reports interactively, to generate reports as batch processes, and to output the results to text file, to screen, or to HTML file for browsing on the Internet. You can generate reports dynamically using the HTML output facility.

You can use SQL*Plus in SQL Developer. For details, see Oracle SQL Developer User’s Guide.

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About SQL Developer

SQL Developer (pronounced sequel developer) is a graphical user interface for Oracle Database, that is available in the default installation of Oracle Database and by free download from the Oracle Technology Network.

SQL Developer serves as a modern integrated development environment (IDE) for SQL and PL/SQL, and provides a graphical interface for managing database objects. You can also create reports, design data models, migrate third-party databases to Oracle, REST-enable tables and views, and deploy and manage Oracle REST Data Services. The SQL Worksheet allows you to enter and run SQL statements, PL/SQL statements, and SQL*Plus commands and scripts.

Note: SQL Developer often offers several ways to do a task, but this document does not explain every possible way.

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About Structured Query Language (SQL)

Structured Query Language (SQL) (pronounced sequel) is the set-based, high-level computer language with which all programs and users access data in Oracle Database.

SQL is a declarative, or nonprocedural, language; that is, it describes what to do, but not how. You specify the desired result set (for example, the names of current employees), but not how to get it.

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About Procedural Language/SQL (PL/SQL)

Procedural Language/SQL (PL/SQL) (pronounced P L sequel) is a native Oracle Database extension to SQL. It bridges the gap between declarative and imperative program control by adding procedural elements, such as conditional control and loops.

In PL/SQL, you can declare constants and variables, procedures and functions, types and variables of those types, and triggers. You can handle exceptions (runtime errors). You can create PL/SQL units-procedures, functions, packages, types, and triggers-that are stored in the database for reuse by applications that use any of the Oracle Database programmatic interfaces.

The basic unit of a PL/SQL source program is the block, which groups related declarations and statements. A block has an optional declarative part, a required executable part, and an optional exception-handling part.

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About Other Client Programs, Languages, and Development Tools

Several other client programs, languages, and tools are available.

Note: Some of the products on the preceding list do not ship with Oracle Database and must be downloaded separately.

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Oracle Application Express

Oracle Application Express is an application development and deployment tool that enables you to quickly create secure and scalable web applications even if you have limited previous programming experience. The embedded Application Builder tool assembles an HTML interface or a complete application that uses schema objects, such as tables or stored procedures, into a collection of pages that are linked through tabs, buttons, or hypertext links.

See Also: Oracle Application Express App Builder User’s Guide for more information about Oracle Application Express

Oracle Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

Oracle Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) is an API that enables Java to send SQL statements to an object-relational database, such as Oracle Database. Oracle Database JDBC provides complete support for the JDBC 3.0 and JDBC RowSet (JSR-114) standards, advanced connection caching for both XA and non-XA connections, exposure of SQL and PL/SQL data types to Java, and fast SQL data access.

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For more information about JDBC:

Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)

The Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a powerful interpreted server-side scripting language for quick web application development. PHP is an open source language that is distributed under a BSD-style license. PHP is designed for embedding database access requests directly into HTML pages.

Oracle Call Interface (OCI)

Oracle Call Interface (OCI) is the native C language API for accessing Oracle Database directly from C applications.

The OCI Software Development Kit is installed as part of the Oracle Instant Client, which enables you to run applications without installing the standard Oracle client or having an ORACLE_HOME. Your applications work without change, using significantly less disk space.

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Oracle C++ Call Interface (OCCI)

Oracle C++ Call Interface (OCCI) is the native C++ language API for accessing Oracle Database directly from C++ applications. Like OCI, OCCI supports both relational and object-oriented programming paradigms.

The OCCI Software Development Kit is also installed as part of the Oracle Instant Client, which enables you to run applications without installing the standard Oracle client or having an ORACLE_HOME. Your applications work without change, using significantly less disk space.

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Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is a set of database access APIs that connect to the database, prepare, and then run SQL statements on the database. An application that uses an ODBC driver can access nonuniform data sources, such as spreadsheets and comma-delimited files.

The Oracle ODBC driver conforms to ODBC 3.51 specifications. It supports all core APIs and a subset of Level 1 and Level 2 functions. Microsoft supplies the Driver manager component for the Windows platform.

Like OCI, OCCI, and JDBC, ODBC is part of the Oracle Instant Client installation.

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Pro*C/C++ Precompiler

The Pro*C/C++ precompiler lets you embed SQL statements in a C or C++ source file. The precompiler accepts the source program as input, translates the embedded SQL statements into standard Oracle runtime library calls, and generates a modified source program that you can compile, link, and run.

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Pro*COBOL Precompiler

The Pro*COBOL precompiler lets you embed SQL statements in a COBOL source file. The precompiler accepts the source program as input, translates the embedded SQL statements into standard Oracle runtime library calls, and generates a modified source program that you can compile, link, and run.

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Microsoft .NET Framework

The Microsoft .NET Framework is a multilanguage environment for building, deploying, and running applications and XML web services.

The main components of the Microsoft .NET Framework are:

Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET)

Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET) provides fast and efficient ADO.NET data access from .NET applications to Oracle Database. ODP.NET allows developers to take advantage of advanced Oracle Database functionality that exists in Oracle Database, including SecureFiles, XML DB, and Advanced Queuing.

Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio (ODT)

Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio (ODT) is a set of application tools that integrate with the Visual Studio environment. These tools provide graphic user interface access to Oracle functionality, enable the user to perform a wide range of application development tasks, and improve development productivity and ease of use. Oracle Developer Tools supports the programming and implementation of .NET stored procedures using Visual Basic, C#, and other .NET languages.

.NET Stored Procedures

Oracle Database Extensions for .NET is a database option for Oracle Database on Windows. It makes it possible to build and run .NET stored procedures or functions with Oracle Database for Microsoft Windows using Visual Basic .NET or Visual C#.

After building .NET procedures and functions into a .NET assembly, you can deploy them in Oracle Database using the Oracle Deployment Wizard for .NET, a component of the Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio.

Oracle Providers for ASP.NET

Oracle Providers for ASP.NET offer ASP.NET developers an easy way to store state common to web applications within Oracle Database. These providers are modeled on existing Microsoft ASP.NET providers, sharing similar schema and programming interfaces to provide .NET developers a familiar interface. Oracle supports the Membership, Profile, Role, and other providers.

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Oracle Provider for OLE DB (OraOLEDB)

Oracle Provider for OLE DB (OraOLEDB) is an open standard data access methodology that uses a set of Component Object Model (COM) interfaces for accessing and manipulating different types of data. These interfaces are available from various database providers.

See Also: Oracle Provider for OLE DB Developer’s Guide for Microsoft Windows for more information about OraOLEDB