Oracle Advanced PL/SQL Developer Professional Guide

Master the advanced concepts of PL/SQL for professional-level certification and learn the new capabilities of Oracle Database 12c

About This Book

• Learn advanced application development features of Oracle Database 12c and prepare for the 1Z0-146 examination
• Build robust and secure applications in Oracle PL/SQL using the best practices
• Packed with feature demonstrations and illustrations that will help you learn and understand the enhanced capabilities of Oracle Database 12c

Who This Book Is For

This book is for Oracle developers responsible for database management. Readers are expected to have basic knowledge of Oracle Database and the fundamentals of PL/SQL programming. Certification aspirants can use this book to prepare for 1Z0-146 examination in order to be an Oracle Certified Professional in Advanced PL/SQL.

What You Will Learn

• Learn and understand the key SQL and PL/SQL features of Oracle Database 12c
• Understand the new Multitenant architecture and Database In-Memory option of Oracle Database 12c
• Know more about the advanced concepts of the Oracle PL/SQL language such as external procedures, securing data using Virtual Private Database (VPD), SecureFiles, and PL/SQL code tracing and profiling
• Implement Virtual Private Databases to prevent unauthorized data access
• Trace, analyze, profile, and debug PL/SQL code while developing database applications
• Integrate the new application development features of Oracle Database 12c with the current concepts
• Discover techniques to analyze and maintain PL/SQL code
• Get acquainted with the best practices of writing PL/SQL code and develop secure applications

In Detail

Oracle Database is one of the most popular databases and allows users to make efficient use of their resources and to enhance service levels while reducing the IT costs incurred. Oracle Database is sometimes compared with Microsoft SQL Server, however, Oracle Database clearly supersedes SQL server in terms of high availability and addressing planned and unplanned downtime. Oracle PL/SQL provides a rich platform for application developers to code and build scalable database applications and introduces multiple new features and enhancements to improve development experience.

Advanced Oracle PL/SQL Developer's Guide, Second Edition is a handy technical reference for seasoned professionals in the database development space. This book starts with a refresher of fundamental concepts of PL/SQL, such as anonymous block, subprograms, and exceptions, and prepares you for the upcoming advanced concepts. The next chapter introduces you to the new features of Oracle Database 12c, not limited to PL/SQL. In this chapter, you will understand some of the most talked about features such as Multitenant and Database In-Memory. Moving forward, each chapter introduces advanced concepts with the help of demonstrations, and provides you with the latest update from Oracle Database 12c context. This helps you to visualize the pre- and post-applications of a feature over the database releases. By the end of this book, you will have become an expert in PL/SQL programming and will be able to implement advanced concepts of PL/SQL for efficient management of Oracle Database.

Style and approach

The book follows the structure of the Oracle Certification examination but doesn't restrict it

Master advanced PL/SQL concepts along with plenty of example questions for 1Z0-146 examination

• Blitz the 1Z0-146 exam
• Master the advanced features of PL/SQL to design and optimize code using real-time demonstrations
• Efficiently design PL/SQL code with cursor design and subtypes

In Detail

PL/SQL (Procedural Language/Structured Query Language) is Oracle Corporation's procedural extension language for SQL and the Oracle relational database. Server-side PL/SQL is stored and compiled in the Oracle Database and runs within the Oracle executable. With this guide Oracle developers can work towards accomplishing Oracle 11g Advanced PL/SQL Professional certification, which is the second milestone for developers working at the Associate level.

The Oracle Advanced PL/SQL Developer Professional Guide helps you master advanced PL/SQL concepts. Besides the clear and precise explanation on advanced topics, it also contains example code and demonstrations, which gives a sense of application and usage to readers.

The book gives a deep insight that will help transform readers from mid-level programmers to professional database developers. It aims to cover the advanced features of PL/SQL for designing and optimizing PL/SQL code.

This book starts with an overview of PL/SQL as the programming database language and outlines the benefits and characteristics of the language. The book then covers the advanced features that include PL/SQL code writing using collections, tuning recommendations using result caching, implementing VPD to enforce row level security, and much more. Apart from programming, the book also dives deep into the usage of the development tool SQL Developer, employing best practices in database environments and safeguarding the vulnerable areas in PL/SQL code to avoid code injection.

What you will learn from this book

• Get to grips with using Advanced Interface Methods
• Learn to implement VPD with Fine Grained Access Control
• Make use of Collections and learn data caching techniques in PL/SQL programs
• Protect PL/SQL code from injection attacks
• Learn to use Result caching to tune PL/SQL code
• Demonstrate tracing and profiling features in PL/SQL
• Get started with SecureFiles for advanced storage options

Approach

This book is packed with real world examples that cover all the advanced features of PL/SQL. In turn, each major certification topic is covered in a separate chapter that makes understanding concepts easier. At the end of each chapter, you will find plenty of practice questions to strengthen and test your learning.

Who this book is written for

If you are a PL/SQL developer looking for deeper insight and a move from mid-level programmer to professional database developer, then this is the best guide for you.

This book is also an ideal guide for all the Associate level PL/SQL programmers who are preparing for the Professional 1Z0-146 certification.

This book assumes you have prior knowledge of PL/SQL programming.