Procedural Language for SQL, better known as PL/SQL, is a proprietary extension to Oracle Corporation's SQL (Structured Query Language) and the Oracle database.
Oracle introduced PL/SQL in order to overcome some limitations in SQL and to provide a more complete programming solution mission-critical applications. PL/SQL has been included since version 6 of Oracle Database, and the PL/SQL engine was incorporated into SQL Forms, now known as Oracle Forms, since version 3. The PL/SQL compiler and interpreter are embedded into the Oracle Developer Suite.
PL/SQL is a full-fledged programming language. It allows users to write programs stored in a database that manage collections of SQL statements in a complete transaction.
SQL is a programming language that enables users to perform actions in a database, such as querying, adding, deleting, and changing data, but the main feature of SQL (non-procedural) is also a drawback. SQL is not a procedural language that programmers can use to code a logical sequence of steps for making a decision, and instructing the computer to perform tasks. For that, a procedural language, like PL/SQL, is required. Oracle views PL/SQL to be a procedural language extension of SQL.
Some of the features of PL/SQL is that the language is highly structured, readable, and accessible. It is portable for Oracle and an embedded language. It is also a high-performance, highly-integrated database language. It provides for tight integration with SQL, offering improved performance, increased productivity, and tighter security.
PL/SQL was modeled after Ada, a programming language built for the US Department of Defense.
The focus of this guide is on PL/SQL, also known as Procedural Language for SQL. Websites whose chief topics are the language itself, and any tools designed to facilitate the use of PL/SQL, or any user groups, forums, tutorials, or guides are appropriate subjects for this category.
Recommended Resources
Online since 2011, JavaTpoint offers online training programs for corporate training and individual learning experiences. Its PL/SQL tutorial includes all aspects of the programming language, including an introduction to the language and such variables as conditional statements, loops, arrays, strings, exceptions, collections, records, triggers, functions, procedures, cursors, cases, and so on, as well as both SQL and PL/SQL interview questions, and a quiz on SQL.
https://www.javatpoint.com/pl-sql-tutorial
Freely available from SourceForge, Log 4 PL/SQL is licensed through a LOG4PLSQL Software License, patterned on the Apache License. It is a PL/SQL framework for logging in all PL/SQL code. Designed for easy implementation and use, and to allow for logging apart from the transaction, as well as adapting the level of logging depending on user requirements, and to use all LOG4J features, providing a complete set of PL/SQL tools development. Documentation is available.
http://log4plsql.sourceforge.net/
PL/SQL is Oracle’s procedural language extension to SQL. Offering a syntax similar to Ada, the language includes object-oriented programming techniques. Its history, development, and support status is highlighted, and a tutorial covers the language’s operators, types, control structures, cursors, anonymous PL/SQL blocks, stored PL/SQL blocks, and exceptions. Examples of language codes are given, and links to other online resources are included.
http://www.orafaq.com/wiki/PL/SQL
Oracle: Application Development: PL/SQL
PL/SQL is a procedural language designed for Oracle, specifically for the purpose of embracing SQL statements within its syntax. PL/SQL program units are compiled by the Oracle Database server and stored within the database. Its introduction to the language is prepared for developers, and includes building and managing program units, PL/SQL datatypes, SQL in PL/SQL, and using Oracle PL/SQL with various other languages and applications. Videos are included.
https://www.oracle.com/database/technologies/appdev/plsql.html
PL/SQL refers to Procedural Language for SQL. Created by Oracle Corporation, it is an extension of SQL, adding various features for programming languages. This online tutorial is designed to teach the basics of database programming in PL/SQL, offering an introduction to the language as well as coding examples and discussing various concepts that are specific to Oracle PL/SQL, as well as those that can be used in other database systems, like Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, and so on.
http://plsql-tutorial.com/
PL/SQL is a reference to Procedural Language (PL) extensions to the Structured Query Language (SQL), created by Oracle Corporation to extend some of the limitations of SQL, providing a better solution for building mission-critical applications running on an Oracle database. The online tutorial assumes a fundamental knowledge of databases and SQL, although it does include a section for those who are new to PL/SQL. Setup information is given, as well as the tutorial.
https://www.plsqltutorial.com/
Hosted on SourceForge, PLDoc is an open-source utility that generates HTML documentation of code written in Oracle PL/SQL, intended to function as JavaDoc does for Java. Examples of how the application works are given and the application may be downloaded from the site under the GNU Lesser General Public License. User documentation, notes for developers, release notes, and a changelog is posted, along with other project information and documentation.
http://pldoc.sourceforge.net/
Online since 2006, Tutorials Point now features tutorials on a wide variety of topics, including programming languages. Its PL/SQL tutorial is intended for software professionals, those who have a basic understanding of basic software concepts, such as databases, source codes, text editors, and the execution of programs. The course is designed to provide a clear understanding of the concepts of the language and give students an intermediate level of expertise in PL/SQL.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/plsql/
