Custom data types

In PL/SQL, you can create your own custom data types using the TYPE keyword. Custom data types can be used to define complex structures that can be reused throughout your code, making it easier to write and maintain complex applications.

Here’s an example of how to create a custom data type:

CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE employee_type AS OBJECT (
   employee_id NUMBER,
   first_name VARCHAR2(50),
   last_name VARCHAR2(50),
   email VARCHAR2(100),
   hire_date DATE,
   department_id NUMBER
);

In addition to object types, PL/SQL also supports the creation of nested tables and varrays, which are custom data types that can be used to store collections of data.

Overall, using custom data types can help make your code more modular, maintainable, and easier to read, especially when dealing with complex data structures.