Introduction, 2 of 4

Overview of SQL*Plus

You can use the SQL*Plus program in conjunction with the SQL database language and its procedural language extension, PL/SQL. The SQL database language allows you to store and retrieve data in Oracle. PL/SQL allows you to link several SQL commands through procedural logic.

SQL*Plus enables you to manipulate SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks, and to perform many additional tasks as well. Through SQL*Plus, you can

enter, edit, store, retrieve, and run SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks
format, perform calculations on, store, and print query results in the form of reports
list column definitions for any table
access and copy data between SQL databases
send messages to and accept responses from an end user
perform database administration

Basic Concepts

The following definitions explain concepts central to SQL*Plus:

command

An instruction you give SQL*Plus or Oracle.

block

A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.

table

The basic unit of storage in Oracle.

query

A SQL command (specifically, a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.

query results

The data retrieved by a query.

report

Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.

Who Can Use SQL*Plus

The SQL*Plus, SQL, and PL/SQL command languages are powerful enough to serve the needs of users with some database experience, yet straightforward enough for new users who are just learning to work with Oracle.

The design of the SQL*Plus command language makes it easy to use. For example, to give a column labelled ENAME in the database the clearer heading "Employee", you might enter the following command:

COLUMN ENAME HEADING EMPLOYEE

Similarly, to list the column definitions for a table called EMP, you might enter this command:

DESCRIBE EMP

Other Ways of Working with Oracle

Oracle tools for Network Computing Architecture help developers to productively and economically build, manage and deploy high-performance and robust enterprise applications for Network Computing.

JDeveloper Suite

a 3GL development tool for building component based, server-centric applications in Java

Oracle Enterprise Developer Suite

an integrated and flexible set of tools for building enterprise-class database applications for client/server and the web

Oracle Application Server

a tool which enables database access through web browsers and the Internet

Oracle Designer

a set of client/server design tools for database applications

Oracle Developer

a set of client/server and web development tools

Oracle Discoverer

a set of end-user query tools

Oracle Programmer

a set of 3GL programming language interfaces

Oracle Reports

a publishing and reporting solution to disseminate dynamic information across corporate intranets or on the Internet

Oracle Workflow

a complete workflow management system that supports business process definition and automation

Oracle Express

a powerful OnLine Analytical Processing (OLAP) server, tools, and pre-built applications for financial, and sales and marketing analysis

Oracle Media Objects

a development tool for object-oriented multimedia applications

Oracle Mobile Agents

a tool for applications using mobile and/or detached clients

command	An instruction you give SQL*Plus or Oracle.
block	A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.
table	The basic unit of storage in Oracle.
query	A SQL command (specifically, a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.
query results	The data retrieved by a query.
report	Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.

JDeveloper Suite	a 3GL development tool for building component based, server-centric applications in Java
Oracle Enterprise Developer Suite	an integrated and flexible set of tools for building enterprise-class database applications for client/server and the web
Oracle Application Server	a tool which enables database access through web browsers and the Internet
Oracle Designer	a set of client/server design tools for database applications
Oracle Developer	a set of client/server and web development tools
Oracle Discoverer	a set of end-user query tools
Oracle Programmer	a set of 3GL programming language interfaces
Oracle Reports	a publishing and reporting solution to disseminate dynamic information across corporate intranets or on the Internet
Oracle Workflow	a complete workflow management system that supports business process definition and automation
Oracle Express	a powerful OnLine Analytical Processing (OLAP) server, tools, and pre-built applications for financial, and sales and marketing analysis
Oracle Media Objects	a development tool for object-oriented multimedia applications
Oracle Mobile Agents	a tool for applications using mobile and/or detached clients