Learn Oracle Database Programming Step by Step, from Your First Block to Packages, Triggers, and Real Projects

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Learn Oracle PL/SQL from the very beginning — by building a real database application.

PL/SQL is Oracle's programming language for the database. It adds variables, decisions, loops, error handling, and reusable procedures to SQL, so business rules live in one trusted place right next to the data. This book starts from zero: no SQL or programming experience is required. You set up a free Oracle environment, learn just enough SQL, and then add one PL/SQL idea at a time, each explained with small runnable examples.

Everything comes together in one continuous project: the database for Bluewater Outfitters, a small outdoor-gear shop. You write the PL/SQL that places orders, applies loyalty discounts and shipping rules, protects stock levels, audits price changes, logs errors, and produces reorder and sales reports — packaged, tested, and ready to use.

• 485 pages · 28 chapters + 4 appendices
• For beginners — just enough SQL is taught first
• Free setup options: Oracle Database Free, Oracle Live SQL, SQL Developer, and SQLcl
• Blocks, variables, %TYPE, IF and CASE, loops, and SQL inside PL/SQL
• Exception handling, procedures, and functions
• Cursors, records, collections, BULK COLLECT, and FORALL
• Packages, triggers, dynamic SQL, and working with dates, strings, and numbers
• Debugging, testing, performance basics, security, and SQL injection prevention
• Error logging with autonomous transactions, ref cursor reports, scheduling, and JSON
• Code written for Oracle Database 19c and later, with 23ai features clearly marked

Table Of Contents

Part I — Getting Started

• Ch 1 · What Is PL/SQL, and Why Learn It?
• Ch 2 · Setting Up: Oracle Database, SQL Developer, and Your First Connection
• Ch 3 · Just Enough SQL: Tables, Queries, and the Bluewater Schema
• Ch 4 · Your First PL/SQL Block
• Ch 5 · Variables, Data Types, and %TYPE

Part II — Control Flow and Program Units

• Ch 6 · Conditional Logic: IF and CASE
• Ch 7 · Loops
• Ch 8 · SQL Inside PL/SQL: SELECT INTO, DML, and Transactions
• Ch 9 · Exception Handling
• Ch 10 · Procedures and Functions

Part III — Working with Data

• Ch 11 · Cursors
• Ch 12 · Records and %ROWTYPE
• Ch 13 · Collections
• Ch 14 · Bulk Processing with BULK COLLECT and FORALL
• Ch 15 · Project: Order Processing

Part IV — Building Reusable Code

• Ch 16 · Packages: Specification and Body
• Ch 17 · Triggers
• Ch 18 · Dynamic SQL
• Ch 19 · Working with Dates, Strings, and Numbers

Part V — Professional PL/SQL

• Ch 20 · Debugging and Tracing
• Ch 21 · Testing PL/SQL
• Ch 22 · Performance Basics
• Ch 23 · Security: Privileges, Definer and Invoker Rights, and SQL Injection
• Ch 24 · Error Logging and Auditing

Part VI — Projects and Next Steps

• Ch 25 · Project: Inventory and Reorder Package
• Ch 26 · Project: Sales Reports with Ref Cursors and Scheduling
• Ch 27 · JSON and Modern PL/SQL Features
• Ch 28 · Next Steps

Appendices

• App A · PL/SQL Cheat Sheet
• App B · Built-in Functions and Packages Reference
• App C · Checklists
• App D · Glossary

WHO IT IS FOR
Complete beginners who want to learn database programming, students in database courses, developers who now work with Oracle databases, and analysts and DBAs who want to automate and package their SQL work.

FORMAT
PDF (A4), 485 pages, English, clickable table of contents and PDF bookmarks. 1st Edition, 2026. Published by thenexbooks. Not affiliated with Oracle Corporation.

Book details