Procedure and functions

PL/SQL is a programming language designed for developing applications that run in Oracle databases. It provides procedural programming constructs, such as procedures and functions, which allow developers to encapsulate complex logic into reusable code blocks.

Procedures in PL/SQL are named blocks of code that can be executed on demand. They can accept input parameters and can return output parameters or values. Procedures can be stored in the database and can be called from other PL/SQL blocks or applications.

Functions are similar to procedures, but they return a value instead of an output parameter. They can also accept input parameters and can be stored in the database for later use.

To create a procedure or function in PL/SQL, you need to use the CREATE PROCEDURE or CREATE FUNCTION statement, respectively. You can specify the input parameters, output parameters (for procedures), and the return type (for functions) in the header of the statement.

Once you have created a procedure or function, you can call it from other PL/SQL blocks or applications using the EXECUTE statement. You can also pass input parameters to the procedure or function and retrieve output values as needed. In summary, procedures and functions in PL/SQL allow developers to write reusable code blocks that can encapsulate complex logic. They can accept input parameters, return output values, and can be stored in the database for later use.