Table of Contents

• Title and Copyright Information
• 1 Introduction
  • About the Guide
  • Database Features and Licensing App
  • Try It On LiveLabs
  • Oracle Database 21c Interactive Architecture Diagram
• 2 Application Development
  • Application Express
    • Application Backups
    • Dark Mode
    • Export App as Zip
    • Faceted Search
    • Friendly URL Syntax
    • Mega Menus
    • Native PDF Printing
    • New Data Upload
    • New Form Region
    • New Team Development
    • Oracle JET Charts
    • Popup List of Values (LOV)
    • Redwood UI
    • Remote Application Deployment
    • REST Read / Write Enhancements
    • Shared List of Values (LOV)
    • SQL Workshop Now Supports Simple Oracle Document Access (SODA)
    • Universal Theme Enhancements
  • Globalization
    • Enhanced Parallel Execution Applicability
    • New German Linguistic Sorts for Capital Sharp S Support
    • New Era Support for Japanese Imperial Calendar
    • Unicode 12.1 Support
    • Near Zero Downtime
  • Java in Oracle Database
    • Oracle JVM Security Enhancements
  • JDBC
    • Java Library for Reactive Streams Ingestion
    • JDBC DataSource for Sharded Databases Access
    • JDBC Reactive Extensions
    • JDBC Support for Native JSON Data Type
  • JSON Document Store
    • New JSON Data Type
    • New Oracle SQL Function JSON_TRANSFORM
    • SQL/JSON Syntax Improvements
    • Multivalue Index for JSON
    • Enhancements to View Creation and of Virtual Columns Addition
    • JSON Scalar Allowed at Top Level of JSON Document (RFC 8259 Support)
    • Compatibility for Old Clients With Binary JSON
  • Net Services
    • Migration of Oracle CMAN Sessions with High Availability
    • Oracle CMAN Traffic Director Mode Support for All Types of Database Links
    • REST APIs for Oracle CMAN Administration, Proxy Protocol, Enhanced Rule List, and Bandwidth Management
    • Reverse Connection Support Using CMAN Tunnels
  • Oracle Call Interface
    • Improvements to OCI Data Interface for LOBs
    • New C Client Interface APIs for JSON Data Type
    • Oracle Call Interface API to Build and Quote TNS Connection Strings
    • Oracle Call Interface Session Pool Improvements
    • Oracle SODA for C and PL/SQL APIs Enhancements
    • Support for C99 Syntax in Pro*C/C++ Precompiler
  • Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET)
    • Managed ODP.NET and ODP.NET Core: Bulk Copy
    • Managed ODP.NET and ODP.NET Core: Debug Tracing Redaction
    • Managed ODP.NET and ODP.NET Core: WebSocket and WebSocket Secure
  • PL/SQL
    • DBMS_CLOUD Package
    • JavaScript Execution using DBMS_MLE
    • New PL/SQL Iterator Constructs
    • New Pragma SUPPRESSES_WARNING_6009
    • PL/SQL Qualified Expressions Enhancements
    • PL/SQL Support For New JSON SQL Data Type
    • PL/SQL Type Attributes in User-Defined Types
  • SQL
    • Enhanced SQL Set Operators
    • Expression Support for Initialization Parameters
    • Placeholders in SQL DDL Statements
    • SQL Macros
  • Text
    • Custom Range Bucketing in Result Set Interface
    • Facet Navigation Support for JSON Search Indexes
    • Improved Index Synchronization and Automatic Index Optimization
    • In-Memory Full Text Columns
    • JSON Support in Result Set Interface
    • Named Entity Recognition Improvements
    • New DIRECTORY_DATASTORE Data Store Type for Oracle Text
    • New NETWORK_DATASTORE Data Store Type for Oracle Text
    • New Oracle Text Index Type: Search Index
• 3 Big Data and Data Warehousing Solutions
  • Analytic Views
    • Analytic View Enhancements to SQL and PL/SQL
  • Analytical SQL and Statistical Functions
    • Bitwise Aggregate Functions
    • Enhanced Analytic Functions
    • New Analytical and Statistical Aggregate Functions
  • Machine Learning for SQL
    • Adam Optimization Solver for the Neural Network Algorithm
    • Oracle Machine Learning MSET-SPRT Algorithm
    • Oracle Machine Learning XGBoost Algorithm
  • Machine Learning for Python
    • Oracle Machine Learning for Python (OML4Py)
    • Oracle Machine Learning for Python Configuration in DBCA
  • Query Optimization
    • In-Memory Vectorized Joins
  • Spatial and Graph
    • Property Graph: Graph Server and Client Kit
    • Property Graph: Native Python Client
    • Property Graph: New Features in PGQL
    • Property Graph: Optimized Graph Representation for Faster Performance
    • Property Graph: User-defined Graph Algorithms
    • Property Graph Visualization
    • RDF Graph: Native Unicode Storage and Processing
    • Self-service Low-code Spatial Studio
    • Spatial Network Data Model Contraction Hierarchy
    • Spatial Support for Database In-Memory
• 4 Database Upgrade and Utilities
  • Database Utilities
    • Oracle Data Pump Checksums Support Cloud Migrations
    • Oracle Data Pump Exports from Oracle Autonomous Database
    • Oracle Data Pump Includes and Excludes in the Same Operation
    • Oracle Data Pump Parallelizes Transportable Tablespace Metadata Operations
    • Oracle Data Pump Provides Optional Index Compression
    • Oracle Data Pump Resumes Transportable Tablespace Jobs
    • Oracle Data Pump Supports Export to and Import From Cloud Object Stores
    • Oracle Data Pump Supports Native JSON Datatypes
    • Oracle SQL*Loader Support for Object Store Credentials
    • Oracle SQL*Loader Supports Native JSON Data Type
  • Upgrades and Migration
    • AutoUpgrade Automates Data Guard Operations During Database Upgrade
    • AutoUpgrade Automates Steps Required for Oracle RAC Database Upgrade
    • AutoUpgrade Automates Upgrade and Conversion of Non-CDB to PDB
    • AutoUpgrade Automates Upgrade of a PDB via Unplug-Plug-Upgrade
    • Oracle Database Automates Database Upgrades with AutoUpgrade
• 5 Management Solutions
  • Diagnosability
    • Enhanced Diagnosability of Oracle Database
    • SQL*Net Improved Diagnosability
  • Manageability
    • Persistent Memory Database
    • DAX-Enabled File Systems
    • New Database Initialization Parameters for Database Resident Connection Pooling (DRCP)
    • Multi-Mount DBFS Client
    • Near Zero Brownout for Planned Maintenance
    • Oracle Grid Infrastructure SwitchHome
    • Read-Only Oracle Home Default
• 6 Performance and High Availability
  • ACFS Cluster File System
    • AutoShrink for ACFS
    • Mixed Sector Support
    • Oracle ACFS File Based Snapshots
    • Replication Unplanned Failover
    • AutoShrink for ACFS
    • Mixed Sector Support
    • Oracle ACFS File Based Snapshots
    • Replication Unplanned Failover
  • Application Continuity
    • Application Continuity Protection Check
    • Session Migration
    • Reset Session State
    • Transparent Application Continuity
    • Transparent Application Continuity in the Oracle Cloud
  • Automatic Operations
    • Automatic Indexing Enhancements
    • Automatic Index Optimization
    • Automatic Materialized Views
    • Automatic SQL Tuning Set
    • Automatic Temporary Tablespace Shrink
    • Automatic Undo Tablespace Shrink
    • Automatic Zone Maps
    • Object Activity Tracking System
    • Sequence Dynamic Cache Resizing
  • Automatic Storage Manager (ASM)
    • Enable ASMCA to Configure Flex ASM on an Existing NAS Configuration
    • Enhanced Double Parity Protection for Flex and Extended Disk Groups
    • File Group Templates
    • Oracle ASM Flex Disk Group Support for Cloning a PDB in One CDB to a New PDB in a Different CDB
  • Autonomous Health Framework
    • Enhanced Support for Oracle Exadata
    • Oracle Cluster Health Advisor Support for Solaris
    • Oracle Cluster Health Monitor Local Mode Support
    • Oracle ORAchk and EXAchk Support for REST API
    • Oracle Trace File Analyzer Real-Time Health Summary
    • Oracle Trace File Analyzer Support for Efficient Multiple Service Request Data Collections
    • Remote GIMR Support for Oracle Standalone Clusters
    • Support for Automatically Enabling Oracle Database Quality of Service (QoS) Management
    • Support for Deploying Grid Infrastructure Management Repository (GIMR) into a Separate Oracle Home
  • Clusterware
    • Clusterware REST API
    • Common Data Model Across Fleet Patching and Provisioning Servers
    • FPP Integration with AutoUpgrade
    • Oracle Clusterware 21c Deprecated and Desupported Features
  • Database In-Memory
    • Database In-Memory Base Level
    • Automatic In-Memory
    • Database In-Memory External Table Enhancements
    • In-Memory Hybrid Scans
    • CellMemory Level
    • Database In-Memory Additional Features
  • Data Guard
    • Active Data Guard - Standby Result Cache
    • Data Guard Broker Far Sync Instance Creation
    • Data Guard Far Sync instance in Maximum Performance Mode
    • Fast-Start Failover Callouts
    • Fast-Start Failover Configuration Validation
    • PDB Recovery Isolation
    • Standardized Data Guard Broker Directory Structure
    • Other Features
      • Callout Configuration Scripts
      • Data Guard Broker Managed Default Directory
      • Oracle Database 21c Data Guard Desupported Features
      • FastStartFailoverLagLimit Configuration Property
      • PREPARE DATABASE FOR DATA GUARD Command
      • VALIDATE FAST_START FAILOVER Command
  • Flashback
    • Migrate Flashback Time Travel-Enabled Tables Between Different Database Releases
    • Flashback Database Support for Datafile Shrink
    • PDB Point-in-Time Recovery or Flashback to Any Time in the Recent Past
  • GoldenGate
    • Automatic CDR Enhancements
    • Improved Support for Table Replication for Oracle GoldenGate
    • LogMiner Views Added to Assist Replication
    • Oracle GoldenGate for Oracle and XStream Support for JSON Data Type
  • Multitenant
    • DRCP Enhancements for Oracle Multitenant
    • Expanded Syntax for PDB Application Synchronization
    • MAX_IDLE_BLOCKER_TIME Parameter
    • Namespace Integration with Database
    • Support Per-PDB Capture for Oracle Autonomous Database
    • Time Zone support for PDBs in DBCA
    • Using Non-CDBs and CDBs
  • Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC)
    • Cache Fusion Hardening
    • Database Management Policy change for Oracle RAC in DBCA
    • Integration of PDB as a Resource in Clusterware
    • Pluggable Database Cluster Resources
  • SecureFiles
    • SecureFiles Shrink
  • Sharding
    • Centralized Backup and Restore of a Sharded Database
    • Create a Sharded Database from Multiple Existing Databases (Federated Sharding)
    • Multi-Shard Query, Data Loading, and DML Enhancements
    • Sharding Advisor Schema Analysis Tool
  • Transactional Event Queues (TEQs)
    • Advanced Queuing Support for JSON Data Type
    • Advanced Queuing: Kafka Java Client for Transactional Event Queues
    • Advanced Queuing: PL/SQL Enqueue and Dequeue Support for JMS Payload in Transactional Event Queues
    • Advanced Queuing: PL/SQL Enqueue and Dequeue Support for non-JMS Payload in Transactional Event Queues
    • Advanced Queuing: Simplified Metadata and Schema in Transactional Event Queues
    • Advanced Queuing: Transactional Event Queues for Performance and Scalability
• 7 Security Solutions
  • Advanced Security
    • Ability to Control Heartbeats in United Mode and Isolated Mode PDBs
    • Ability to Set the Default Tablespace Encryption Algorithm
    • Enhanced Database Availability with Zero Downtime to Switch Over to an Updated PKCS#11 Library
    • Improved Performance with Large Numbers of TDE Keys in Wallets or Oracle Key Vault
    • Sharing of TDE Master Encryption Key Across Oracle Processes
  • Database Vault
    • Ability to Prevent Local Oracle Database Vault Policies from Blocking Common Operations
    • ADMINISTER KEY MANAGEMENT Statement Now Protected by Oracle Database Vault Command Rules
    • DBA_DV_SIMULATION_LOG View Columns REALM_NAME and RULE_SET_NAME Now VARCHAR2 Data Type
    • No Need to Disable Oracle Database Vault Before Upgrades
    • Uninstalling and Installing Oracle Label Security and Oracle Database Vault Now Supported
  • Security
    • Oracle Blockchain Table
    • Immutable Tables
    • Authentication and Authorization
      • Ability to Specify the Location of the CMU Wallet and dsi.ora File with a Database Property
      • Ability to Use Multiple Kerberos Principals with a Single Database Client
      • Addition of USER_APPLICATION_ROLES Data Dictionary View
      • Connect to Multiple Databases with Different Certificates from a Single Client
      • Enterprise User Manager Support for Per-PDB Directory Service Connections
      • Force Upgraded Password File to be Case Sensitive
      • Gradual Database Password Rollover for Applications
      • Minimum Password Length Enforcement for All PDBs
      • New and Updated Password User Profiles for STIG and CIS
      • Oracle Database Connections to Kerberos Servers Now Default to TCP
      • Windows Authentication No Longer Uses NTLM by Default
    • Encryption
      • Updated Support for Micro Edition Suite (MES) for FIPS 140.2
      • Support for DBMS_CRYPTO Asymmetric Key Operations
    • Audit
      • Auditing for Oracle XML DB HTTP and FTP Services
      • Predefined Unified Audit Policies for Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) Compliance
      • SYSLOG Destination for Common Unified Audit Policies
      • Unified Audit Policies Enforced on the Current User
      • Unified Audit Policy Configuration Changes Effective Immediately
      • Unified Auditing on an Editioned Object Now Applies to All Its Editions
• 8 New Features in 21c Release Updates
  • Release Update 21.4 Features
  • Release Update 21.5 Features
  • Release Update 21.6 Features
  • Release Update 21.7 Features
    • Data Guard per Pluggable Database
  • Release Update 21.8 Features
  • Release Update 21.9 Features
  • Release Update 21.10 Features
  • Release Update 21.11 Features
  • Release Update 21.12 Features
    • AutoUpgrade Release Update (RU) Upgrades
    • AutoUpgrade Sets Parallelism Based on System Resources
    • AutoUpgrade Supports Upgrades with Keystore Access to Databases Using TDE
    • AutoUpgrade Unplug-Plugin Upgrades to Different Systems
    • REST APIs for AutoUpgrade
  • Release Update 21.13 Features