Managing Oracle Database Objects - Glossary
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A database object is any defined object in a database that is used to store or reference data. Some examples of database objects include tables, views, clusters, sequences, indexes, and synonyms. The table is this hour's focus because it is the primary and simplest form of data storage in a relational database.
A database object, within the context of Oracle, refers to a distinct, named structure that stores, organizes, and manages data within an Oracle Database. These objects are fundamental components of the Oracle Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and provide a systematic approach for storing, retrieving, and manipulating data within the database. Oracle database objects can be broadly categorized into schema objects and non-schema objects.
Schema objects are objects that belong to a specific user's schema and are created and managed by that user. Some common schema objects include:
Non-schema objects, on the other hand, are objects that do not belong to a specific user's schema. These objects are typically shared across multiple schemas and are managed by the database administrator. Some common non-schema objects include:
Overall, database objects play a crucial role in the organization, management, and security of data within an Oracle Database environment. Understanding and working with these objects is an essential aspect of database administration and development.
Schema objects are objects that belong to a specific user's schema and are created and managed by that user. Some common schema objects include:
- Tables: These are the basic structure for storing data in an Oracle Database. A table consists of rows and columns, where each row represents a unique record, and each column represents an attribute of the data.
- Indexes: These are database objects that provide a fast, efficient, and organized way to access data in tables. Indexes are created on one or more columns of a table to facilitate quick data retrieval and improve query performance.
- Views: Views are virtual tables that display data from one or more base tables. They do not store data but instead provide an alternative way to access and manipulate data stored in the underlying tables.
- Sequences: These are database objects that generate unique, sequential numeric values. Sequences are often used to generate unique primary key values for tables.
- Stored Procedures and Functions: These are PL/SQL (Procedural Language for SQL) code blocks stored in the database, which can be called by applications to perform specific operations on data. Stored procedures do not return values, while functions return a single value.
- Triggers: Triggers are PL/SQL code blocks that automatically execute in response to specific events, such as data manipulation (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) or schema modifications. They can be used for enforcing data integrity constraints or performing custom actions.
- Synonyms: Synonyms are aliases for schema objects, providing an alternative name to reference a database object. They simplify SQL queries and can help provide security by hiding the underlying object's name and schema.
Non-schema objects, on the other hand, are objects that do not belong to a specific user's schema. These objects are typically shared across multiple schemas and are managed by the database administrator. Some common non-schema objects include:
- Tablespaces: These are logical storage units within an Oracle Database, used to allocate space for schema objects such as tables and indexes. Each tablespace consists of one or more datafiles, which store the actual data.
- Roles: Roles are collections of privileges that can be granted to users or other roles. They simplify the management of database access and security by grouping related privileges together.
- Profiles: Profiles are sets of resource limits and password policies assigned to users. They help enforce security and control resource usage within an Oracle Database.
Overall, database objects play a crucial role in the organization, management, and security of data within an Oracle Database environment. Understanding and working with these objects is an essential aspect of database administration and development.
- Add-on Tuning Pack
- One of any number of applets Oracle offers to extend the capabilities of the Oracle Enterprise Manager.
- BLOB
- A binary large object (BLOB) is a large piece of data.
- CASE
- Computer Aided Software Design, a process where the implementation details of application systems are partially determined through computerized automation.
- Contention
- A source of possible performance degradation caused by two or more users contending for the same resources.
- Data Definition Language
- The portion of the SQL language that is used to create and alter the structures that hold the data in thedatabase.
- Data Dictionary
- A group of tables and views that define the structures in a database.
- Data Manipulation Language (DML)
- The portion of the SQL language that is used to manipulate the actual data in the database.
- Dictionary Cache hit-ratio
- This ratio ells you relatively how often Oracle finds data dictionary information in memory as opposed to reading it from disk. The ratio is relative to 1, so a ratio of .95 indicates that 95% of the time Oracle is finding data dictionary information in memory. Higher ratios indicate better performance than lower ones.
- Early-Bound
- When a value is resolved at compile time, it is called early-bound.
- Oracle 11g Grid
- Oracle 11g Grid, also known as Oracle Grid Infrastructure, is a software infrastructure that provides a foundation for Oracle databases and cluster resources. It includes components like Oracle Clusterware (for high availability) and Oracle Automatic Storage Management (ASM) for managing storage. Essentially, it's a separate installation that sets up the environment for your Oracle database(s), offering features like failover, load balancing, and simplified storage management.
- Hot Patching
- Hot patching is a method of applying patches to an Oracle database while it remains online and accessible to users. This technique minimizes downtime by allowing the application of bug fixes, security updates, and other critical patches without requiring a full database shutdown. It involves patching the affected code in memory while the database is running, enhancing availability and reducing disruption to business operations.
- Invalid
- An invalid piece of code is one not capable of being run because of errors in its definition.
- Late-Bound
- When a value is resolved at runtime, it is called late-bound.
- National Language Subset
- A group of characters that are used to represent a specific national language or dialect.
- Oracle interMedia
- An option for the Oracle database designed for handling specific types of large data (such as images or spatial data) and text.
- Privilege
- The capability to perform some type of database action.
- Query Optimizer
- A piece of software that selects the optimal way to retrieve data from a selection of possible retrieval paths.
- Referential Integrity
- The guarantee that a data value in one column refers to an already existing value in another column.
- Role
- A collection of privileges that can be assigned together.
- Schema
- A structure in an Oracle database that contains database structures, typically owned by the schema owner.