Preface

Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference describes and explains how to use PL/SQL, the Oracle procedural extension of SQL.

Preface topics:

• Audience

• Documentation Accessibility

• Related Documents

• Conventions

• Syntax Descriptions

Audience

Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference is intended for anyone who is developing PL/SQL-based applications for either an Oracle Database or an Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database, including:

• Programmers

• Systems analysts

• Project managers

• Database administrators

To use this document effectively, you need a working knowledge of:

• Oracle Database

• Structured Query Language (SQL)

• Basic programming concepts such as IF-THEN statements, loops, procedures, and functions

Documentation Accessibility

Our goal is to make Oracle products, services, and supporting documentation accessible to all users, including users that are disabled. To that end, our documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to facilitate access by the disabled community. Accessibility standards will continue to evolve over time, and Oracle is actively engaged with other market-leading technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be accessible to all of our customers. For more information, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program Web site at http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/.

Accessibility of Code Examples in Documentation

Screen readers may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an otherwise empty line; however, some screen readers may not always read a line of text that consists solely of a bracket or brace.

Accessibility of Links to External Web Sites in Documentation

This documentation may contain links to Web sites of other companies or organizations that Oracle does not own or control. Oracle neither evaluates nor makes any representations regarding the accessibility of these Web sites.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Access to Oracle Support Services

To reach Oracle Support Services, use a telecommunications relay service (TRS) to call Oracle Support at 1.800.223.1711. An Oracle Support Services engineer will handle technical issues and provide customer support according to the Oracle service request process. Information about TRS is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trs.html, and a list of phone numbers is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trsphonebk.html.

Related Documents

For more information, see these documents in the Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2) documentation set:

• Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

• Oracle Database Advanced Application Developer's Guide

• Oracle Database SecureFiles and Large Objects Developer's Guide

• Oracle Database Object-Relational Developer's Guide

• Oracle Database Concepts

• Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference

• Oracle Database Sample Schemas

• Oracle Database SQL Language Reference

Conventions

This document uses these text conventions:

Also:

• *_view means all static data dictionary views whose names end with view. For example, *_ERRORS means ALL_ERRORS, DBA_ERRORS, and USER_ERRORS. For more information about any static data dictionary view, or about static dictionary views in general, see Oracle Database Reference.

• Table names not qualified with schema names are in the sample schema HR. For information about the sample schemas, see Oracle Database Sample Schemas.

• In this document, a data manipulation language (DML) statement is a SQL INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or MERGE statement. (Oracle Database SQL Language Reference defines DML differently.)

Syntax Descriptions

Syntax descriptions are provided in this book for various SQL, PL/SQL, or other command-line constructs in graphic form or Backus Naur Form (BNF). See Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for information about how to interpret these descriptions.