5 PL/SQL Collections and Records

A composite data type stores values that have internal components. You can pass entire composite variables to subprograms as parameters, and you can access internal components of composite variables individually. Internal components can be either scalar or composite. You can use scalar components wherever you can use scalar variables. PL/SQL lets you define two kinds of composite data types, collection and record. You can use composite components wherever you can use composite variables of the same type.

Note:

If you pass a composite variable as a parameter to a remote subprogram, then you must create a redundant loop-back DATABASE LINK, so that when the remote subprogram compiles, the type checker that verifies the source uses the same definition of the user-defined composite variable type as the invoker uses. For information about the CREATE DATABASE LINK statement, see Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.

In a collection, the internal components always have the same data type, and are called elements. You can access each element of a collection variable by its unique index, with this syntax: variable_name(index). To create a collection variable, you either define a collection type and then create a variable of that type or use %TYPE.

In a record, the internal components can have different data types, and are called fields. You can access each field of a record variable by its name, with this syntax: variable_name.field_name. To create a record variable, you either define a RECORD type and then create a variable of that type or use %ROWTYPE or %TYPE.

You can create a collection of records, and a record that contains collections.

Collection Topics

Collection Types
Associative Arrays
Varrays (Variable-Size Arrays)
Nested Tables
Collection Constructors
Assigning Values to Collection Variables
Multidimensional Collections
Collection Comparisons
Collection Methods
Collection Types Defined in Package Specifications

See Also:

"BULK COLLECT Clause" for information about retrieving query results into a collection
"Collection Variable Declaration" for syntax and semantics of collection type definition and collection variable declaration

Record Topics

Record Variables
Assigning Values to Record Variables
Record Comparisons
Inserting Records into Tables
Updating Rows with Records
Restrictions on Record Inserts and Updates

Note:

Several examples in this chapter define procedures that print their composite variables. Several of those procedures invoke this standalone procedure, which prints either its integer parameter (if it is not NULL) or the string 'NULL':

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE print (n INTEGER) IS
BEGIN
  IF n IS NOT NULL THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(n);
  ELSE
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('NULL');
  END IF;
END print;
/

Some examples in this chapter define functions that return values of composite types.

You can understand the examples in this chapter without completely understanding PL/SQL procedures and functions, which are explained in Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms".

Collection Types

PL/SQL has three collection types—associative array, VARRAY (variable-size array), and nested table. Table 5-1 summarizes their similarities and differences.

Table 5-1 PL/SQL Collection Types

Collection Type	Number of Elements	Index Type	Dense or Sparse	Uninitialized Status	Where Defined	Can Be ADT Attribute Data Type
Associative array (or index-by table)	Unspecified	String or `PLS_INTEGER`	Either	Empty	In PL/SQL block or package	No
`VARRAY` (variable-size array)	Specified	Integer	Always dense	Null	In PL/SQL block or package or at schema level	Only if defined at schema level
Nested table	Unspecified	Integer	Starts dense, can become sparse	Null	In PL/SQL block or package or at schema level	Only if defined at schema level

Number of Elements

If the number of elements is specified, it is the maximum number of elements in the collection. If the number of elements is unspecified, the maximum number of elements in the collection is the upper limit of the index type.

Dense or Sparse

A dense collection has no gaps between elements—every element between the first and last element is defined and has a value (the value can be NULL unless the element has a NOT NULL constraint). A sparse collection has gaps between elements.

Uninitialized Status

An empty collection exists but has no elements. To add elements to an empty collection, invoke the EXTEND method (described in "EXTEND Collection Method").

A null collection (also called an atomically null collection) does not exist. To change a null collection to an existing collection, you must initialize it, either by making it empty or by assigning a non-NULL value to it (for details, see "Collection Constructors" and "Assigning Values to Collection Variables"). You cannot use the EXTEND method to initialize a null collection.

Where Defined

A collection type defined in a PL/SQL block is a local type. It is available only in the block, and is stored in the database only if the block is in a standalone or package subprogram. (Standalone and package subprograms are explained in "Nested, Package, and Standalone Subprograms".)

A collection type defined in a package specification is a public item. You can reference it from outside the package by qualifying it with the package name (package_name.type_name). It is stored in the database until you drop the package. (Packages are explained in Chapter 10, "PL/SQL Packages.")

A collection type defined at schema level is a standalone type. You create it with the "CREATE TYPE Statement". It is stored in the database until you drop it with the "DROP TYPE Statement".

Note:

A collection type defined in a package specification is incompatible with an identically defined local or standalone collection type (see Example 5-31 and Example 5-32).

Can Be ADT Attribute Data Type

To be an ADT attribute data type, a collection type must be a standalone collection type. For other restrictions, see Restrictions on datatype.

Translating Non-PL/SQL Composite Types to PL/SQL Composite Types

If you have code or business logic that uses another language, you can usually translate the array and set types of that language directly to PL/SQL collection types. For example:

Non-PL/SQL Composite Type	Equivalent PL/SQL Composite Type
Hash table	Associative array
Unordered table	Associative array
Set	Nested table
Bag	Nested table
Array	`VARRAY`

See Also:

Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for information about the CAST function, which converts one SQL data type or collection-typed value into another SQL data type or collection-typed value.

Associative Arrays

An associative array (formerly called PL/SQL table or index-by table) is a set of key-value pairs. Each key is a unique index, used to locate the associated value with the syntax variable_name(index).

The data type of index can be either a string type or PLS_INTEGER. Indexes are stored in sort order, not creation order. For string types, sort order is determined by the initialization parameters NLS_SORT and NLS_COMP.

Like a database table, an associative array:

Is empty (but not null) until you populate it
Can hold an unspecified number of elements, which you can access without knowing their positions

Unlike a database table, an associative array:

Does not need disk space or network operations
Cannot be manipulated with DML statements

Example 5-1 defines a type of associative array indexed by string, declares a variable of that type, populates the variable with three elements, changes the value of one element, and prints the values (in sort order, not creation order). (FIRST and NEXT are collection methods, described in "Collection Methods".)

Example 5-1 Associative Array Indexed by String

DECLARE
  -- Associative array indexed by string:
  
  TYPE population IS TABLE OF NUMBER  -- Associative array type
    INDEX BY VARCHAR2(64);            --  indexed by string
  
  city_population  population;        -- Associative array variable
  i  VARCHAR2(64);                    -- Scalar variable
  
BEGIN
  -- Add elements (key-value pairs) to associative array:
 
  city_population('Smallville')  := 2000;
  city_population('Midland')     := 750000;
  city_population('Megalopolis') := 1000000;
 
  -- Change value associated with key 'Smallville':
 
  city_population('Smallville') := 2001;
 
  -- Print associative array:
 
  i := city_population.FIRST;  -- Get first element of array
 
  WHILE i IS NOT NULL LOOP
    DBMS_Output.PUT_LINE
      ('Population of ' || i || ' is ' || city_population(i));
    i := city_population.NEXT(i);  -- Get next element of array
  END LOOP;
END;
/

Result:

Population of Megalopolis is 1000000
Population of Midland is 750000
Population of Smallville is 2001

Example 5-2 defines a type of associative array indexed by PLS_INTEGER and a function that returns an associative array of that type.

Example 5-2 Function Returns Associative Array Indexed by PLS_INTEGER

DECLARE
  TYPE sum_multiples IS TABLE OF PLS_INTEGER INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
  n  PLS_INTEGER := 5;   -- number of multiples to sum for display
  sn PLS_INTEGER := 10;  -- number of multiples to sum
  m  PLS_INTEGER := 3;   -- multiple

  FUNCTION get_sum_multiples (
    multiple IN PLS_INTEGER,
    num      IN PLS_INTEGER
  ) RETURN sum_multiples
  IS
    s sum_multiples;
  BEGIN
    FOR i IN 1..num LOOP
      s(i) := multiple * ((i * (i + 1)) / 2);  -- sum of multiples
    END LOOP;
    RETURN s;
  END get_sum_multiples;

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    'Sum of the first ' || TO_CHAR(n) || ' multiples of ' ||
    TO_CHAR(m) || ' is ' || TO_CHAR(get_sum_multiples (m, sn)(n))
  );
END;
/

Result:

Sum of the first 5 multiples of 3 is 45

Topics

Declaring Associative Array Constants
NLS Parameter Values Affect Associative Arrays Indexed by String
Appropriate Uses for Associative Arrays

See Also:

Table 5-1 for a summary of associative array characteristics
"assoc_array_type_def ::=" for the syntax of an associative array type definition

Declaring Associative Array Constants

When declaring an associative array constant, you must create a function that populates the associative array with its initial value and then invoke the function in the constant declaration, as in Example 5-3. (The function does for the associative array what a constructor does for a varray or nested table. For information about constructors, see "Collection Constructors".)

Example 5-3 Declaring Associative Array Constant

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE My_Types AUTHID DEFINER IS
  TYPE My_AA IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(20) INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
  FUNCTION Init_My_AA RETURN My_AA;
END My_Types;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY My_Types IS
  FUNCTION Init_My_AA RETURN My_AA IS
    Ret My_AA;
  BEGIN
    Ret(-10) := '-ten';
    Ret(0) := 'zero';
    Ret(1) := 'one';
    Ret(2) := 'two';
    Ret(3) := 'three';
    Ret(4) := 'four';
    Ret(9) := 'nine';
    RETURN Ret;
  END Init_My_AA;
END My_Types;
/
DECLARE
  v CONSTANT My_Types.My_AA := My_Types.Init_My_AA();
BEGIN
  DECLARE
    Idx PLS_INTEGER := v.FIRST();
  BEGIN
    WHILE Idx IS NOT NULL LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_CHAR(Idx, '999')||LPAD(v(Idx), 7));
      Idx := v.NEXT(Idx);
    END LOOP;
  END;
END;
/

Result:

-10   -ten
0   zero
1    one
2    two
3  three
4   four
9   nine
 
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

NLS Parameter Values Affect Associative Arrays Indexed by String

National Language Support (NLS) parameters such as NLS_SORT, NLS_COMP, and NLS_DATE_FORMAT affect associative arrays indexed by string.

Topics

Changing NLS Parameter Values After Populating Associative Arrays
Indexes of Data Types Other Than VARCHAR2
Passing Associative Arrays to Remote Databases

See Also:

Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide for information about linguistic sort parameters

Changing NLS Parameter Values After Populating Associative Arrays

The initialization parameters NLS_SORT and NLS_COMP determine the storage order of string indexes of an associative array. If you change the value of either parameter after populating an associative array indexed by string, then the collection methods FIRST, LAST, NEXT, and PRIOR (described in "Collection Methods") might return unexpected values or raise exceptions. If you must change these parameter values during your session, restore their original values before operating on associative arrays indexed by string.

Indexes of Data Types Other Than VARCHAR2

In the declaration of an associative array indexed by string, the string type must be VARCHAR2 or one of its subtypes. However, you can populate the associative array with indexes of any data type that the TO_CHAR function can convert to VARCHAR2. (For information about TO_CHAR, see Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.)

If your indexes have data types other than VARCHAR2 and its subtypes, ensure that these indexes remain consistent and unique if the values of initialization parameters change. For example:

Do not use TO_CHAR(SYSDATE) as an index.

If the value of NLS_DATE_FORMAT changes, then the value of (TO_CHAR(SYSDATE)) might also change.
Do not use different NVARCHAR2 indexes that might be converted to the same VARCHAR2 value.
Do not use CHAR or VARCHAR2 indexes that differ only in case, accented characters, or punctuation characters.

If the value of NLS_SORT ends in _CI (case-insensitive comparisons) or _AI (accent- and case-insensitive comparisons), then indexes that differ only in case, accented characters, or punctuation characters might be converted to the same value.

Passing Associative Arrays to Remote Databases

If you pass an associative array as a parameter to a remote database, and the local and the remote databases have different NLS_SORT or NLS_COMP values, then:

The collection method FIRST, LAST, NEXT or PRIOR (described in "Collection Methods") might return unexpected values or raise exceptions.
Indexes that are unique on the local database might not be unique on the remote database, raising the predefined exception VALUE_ERROR.

Appropriate Uses for Associative Arrays

An associative array is appropriate for:

A relatively small lookup table, which can be constructed in memory each time you invoke the subprogram or initialize the package that declares it
Passing collections to and from the database server

Declare formal subprogram parameters of associative array types. With Oracle Call Interface (OCI) or an Oracle precompiler, bind the host arrays to the corresponding actual parameters. PL/SQL automatically converts between host arrays and associative arrays indexed by PLS_INTEGER.

Note:
You cannot declare an associative array type at schema level. Therefore, to pass an associative array variable as a parameter to a standalone subprogram, you must declare the type of that variable in a package specification. Doing so makes the type available to both the invoked subprogram (which declares a formal parameter of that type) and the invoking subprogram or anonymous block (which declares and passes the variable of that type). See Example 10-2.

Tip:
The most efficient way to pass collections to and from the database server is to use associative arrays with the FORALL statement or BULK COLLECT clause. For details, see "FORALL Statement" and "BULK COLLECT Clause".

An associative array is intended for temporary data storage. To make an associative array persistent for the life of a database session, declare it in a package specification and populate it in the package body.

Varrays (Variable-Size Arrays)

A varray (variable-size array) is an array whose number of elements can vary from zero (empty) to the declared maximum size. To access an element of a varray variable, use the syntax variable_name(index). The lower bound of index is 1; the upper bound is the current number of elements. The upper bound changes as you add or delete elements, but it cannot exceed the maximum size. When you store and retrieve a varray from the database, its indexes and element order remain stable.

Figure 5-1shows a varray variable named Grades, which has maximum size 10 and contains seven elements. Grades(n) references the nth element of Grades. The upper bound of Grades is 7, and it cannot exceed 10.

Figure 5-1 Varray of Maximum Size 10 with 7 Elements

Description of "Figure 5-1 Varray of Maximum Size 10 with 7 Elements"

The database stores a varray variable as a single object. If a varray variable is less than 4 KB, it resides inside the table of which it is a column; otherwise, it resides outside the table but in the same tablespace.

An uninitialized varray variable is a null collection. You must initialize it, either by making it empty or by assigning a non-NULL value to it. For details, see "Collection Constructors" and "Assigning Values to Collection Variables".

Example 5-4 defines a local VARRAY type, declares a variable of that type (initializing it with a constructor), and defines a procedure that prints the varray. The example invokes the procedure three times: After initializing the variable, after changing the values of two elements individually, and after using a constructor to the change the values of all elements. (For an example of a procedure that prints a varray that might be null or empty, see Example 5-24.)

Example 5-4 Varray (Variable-Size Array)

DECLARE
  TYPE Foursome IS VARRAY(4) OF VARCHAR2(15);  -- VARRAY type
 
  -- varray variable initialized with constructor:
 
  team Foursome := Foursome('John', 'Mary', 'Alberto', 'Juanita');
 
  PROCEDURE print_team (heading VARCHAR2) IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(heading);
 
    FOR i IN 1..4 LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(i || '.' || team(i));
    END LOOP;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---'); 
  END;
  
BEGIN 
  print_team('2001 Team:');
 
  team(3) := 'Pierre';  -- Change values of two elements
  team(4) := 'Yvonne';
  print_team('2005 Team:');
 
  -- Invoke constructor to assign new values to varray variable:
 
  team := Foursome('Arun', 'Amitha', 'Allan', 'Mae');
  print_team('2009 Team:');
END;
/

Result:

2001 Team:
1.John
2.Mary
3.Alberto
4.Juanita
---
2005 Team:
1.John
2.Mary
3.Pierre
4.Yvonne
---
2009 Team:
1.Arun
2.Amitha
3.Allan
4.Mae
---

Topics

Appropriate Uses for Varrays

See Also:

Table 5-1 for a summary of varray characteristics
"varray_type_def ::=" for the syntax of a VARRAY type definition
"CREATE TYPE Statement" for information about creating standalone VARRAY types
Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for more information about varrays

Appropriate Uses for Varrays

A varray is appropriate when:

You know the maximum number of elements.
You usually access the elements sequentially.

Because you must store or retrieve all elements at the same time, a varray might be impractical for large numbers of elements.

Nested Tables

In the database, a nested table is a column type that stores an unspecified number of rows in no particular order. When you retrieve a nested table value from the database into a PL/SQL nested table variable, PL/SQL gives the rows consecutive indexes, starting at 1. Using these indexes, you can access the individual rows of the nested table variable. The syntax is variable_name(index). The indexes and row order of a nested table might not remain stable as you store and retrieve the nested table from the database.

The amount of memory that a nested table variable occupies can increase or decrease dynamically, as you add or delete elements.

An uninitialized nested table variable is a null collection. You must initialize it, either by making it empty or by assigning a non-NULL value to it. For details, see "Collection Constructors" and "Assigning Values to Collection Variables".

Example 5-5 defines a local nested table type, declares a variable of that type (initializing it with a constructor), and defines a procedure that prints the nested table. (The procedure uses the collection methods FIRST and LAST, described in "Collection Methods".) The example invokes the procedure three times: After initializing the variable, after changing the value of one element, and after using a constructor to the change the values of all elements. After the second constructor invocation, the nested table has only two elements. Referencing element 3 would raise error ORA-06533.

Example 5-5 Nested Table of Local Type

DECLARE
  TYPE Roster IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(15);  -- nested table type
 
  -- nested table variable initialized with constructor:
 
  names Roster := Roster('D Caruso', 'J Hamil', 'D Piro', 'R Singh');
 
  PROCEDURE print_names (heading VARCHAR2) IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(heading);
 
    FOR i IN names.FIRST .. names.LAST LOOP  -- For first to last element
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(names(i));
    END LOOP;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---');
  END;
  
BEGIN 
  print_names('Initial Values:');
 
  names(3) := 'P Perez';  -- Change value of one element
  print_names('Current Values:');
 
  names := Roster('A Jansen', 'B Gupta');  -- Change entire table
  print_names('Current Values:');
END;
/

Result:

Initial Values:
D Caruso
J Hamil
D Piro
R Singh
---
Current Values:
D Caruso
J Hamil
P Perez
R Singh
---
Current Values:
A Jansen
B Gupta

Example 5-6 defines a standalone nested table type, nt_type, and a standalone procedure to print a variable of that type, print_nt. (The procedure uses the collection methods FIRST and LAST, described in "Collection Methods".) An anonymous block declares a variable of type nt_type, initializing it to empty with a constructor, and invokes print_nt twice: After initializing the variable and after using a constructor to the change the values of all elements.

Note:

Example 5-17, Example 5-19, and Example 5-20 reuse nt_type and print_nt.

Example 5-6 Nested Table of Standalone Type

CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE nt_type IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE print_nt (nt nt_type) IS
  i  NUMBER;
BEGIN
  i := nt.FIRST;
 
  IF i IS NULL THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('nt is empty');
  ELSE
    WHILE i IS NOT NULL LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('nt.(' || i || ') = '); print(nt(i));
      i := nt.NEXT(i);
    END LOOP;
  END IF;
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---');
END print_nt;
/
DECLARE
  nt nt_type := nt_type();  -- nested table variable initialized to empty
BEGIN
  print_nt(nt);
  nt := nt_type(90, 9, 29, 58);
  print_nt(nt);
END;
/

Result:

nt is empty
---
nt.(1) = 90
nt.(2) = 9
nt.(3) = 29
nt.(4) = 58
---

Topics

Important Differences Between Nested Tables and Arrays
Appropriate Uses for Nested Tables

See Also:

Table 5-1 for a summary of nested table characteristics
"nested_table_type_def ::=" for the syntax of a nested table type definition
"CREATE TYPE Statement" for information about creating standalone nested table types
"INSTEAD OF Triggers on Nested Table Columns of Views" for information about triggers that update nested table columns of views
Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for more information about nested tables

Important Differences Between Nested Tables and Arrays

Conceptually, a nested table is like a one-dimensional array with an arbitrary number of elements. However, a nested table differs from an array in these important ways:

An array has a declared number of elements, but a nested table does not. The size of a nested table can increase dynamically.
An array is always dense. A nested array is dense initially, but it can become sparse, because you can delete elements from it.

Figure 5-2 shows the important differences between a nested table and an array.

Figure 5-2 Array and Nested Table

Description of "Figure 5-2 Array and Nested Table"

Appropriate Uses for Nested Tables

A nested table is appropriate when:

The number of elements is not set.
Index values are not consecutive.
You must delete or update some elements, but not all elements simultaneously.

Nested table data is stored in a separate store table, a system-generated database table. When you access a nested table, the database joins the nested table with its store table. This makes nested tables suitable for queries and updates that affect only some elements of the collection.
You would create a separate lookup table, with multiple entries for each row of the main table, and access it through join queries.

Collection Constructors

Note:

This topic applies only to varrays and nested tables. Associative arrays do not have constructors. In this topic, collection means varray or nested table.

A collection constructor (constructor) is a system-defined function with the same name as a collection type, which returns a collection of that type. The syntax of a constructor invocation is:

collection_type ( [ value [, value ]... ] )

If the parameter list is empty, the constructor returns an empty collection. Otherwise, the constructor returns a collection that contains the specified values. For semantic details, see "collection_constructor".

You can assign the returned collection to a collection variable (of the same type) in the variable declaration and in the executable part of a block.

Example 5-7 invokes a constructor twice: to initialize the varray variable team to empty in its declaration, and to give it new values in the executable part of the block. The procedure print_team shows the initial and final values of team. To determine when team is empty, print_team uses the collection method COUNT, described in "Collection Methods". (For an example of a procedure that prints a varray that might be null, see Example 5-24.)

Example 5-7 Initializing Collection (Varray) Variable to Empty

DECLARE
  TYPE Foursome IS VARRAY(4) OF VARCHAR2(15);
  team Foursome := Foursome();  -- initialize to empty
 
  PROCEDURE print_team (heading VARCHAR2)
  IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(heading);
 
    IF team.COUNT = 0 THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Empty');
    ELSE 
      FOR i IN 1..4 LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(i || '.' || team(i));
      END LOOP;
    END IF;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---'); 
  END;
 
BEGIN
  print_team('Team:');
  team := Foursome('John', 'Mary', 'Alberto', 'Juanita');
  print_team('Team:');
END;
/

Result:

Team:
Empty
---
Team:
1.John
2.Mary
3.Alberto
4.Juanita
---

Assigning Values to Collection Variables

You can assign a value to a collection variable in these ways:

Invoke a constructor to create a collection and assign it to the collection variable, as explained in "Collection Constructors".
Use the assignment statement (described in "Assignment Statement") to assign it the value of another existing collection variable.
Pass it to a subprogram as an OUT or IN OUT parameter, and then assign the value inside the subprogram.

To assign a value to a scalar element of a collection variable, reference the element as collection_variable_name(index) and assign it a value as instructed in "Assigning Values to Variables".

Topics

Data Type Compatibility
Assigning Null Values to Varray or Nested Table Variables
Assigning Set Operation Results to Nested Table Variables

See Also:

"BULK COLLECT Clause"

Data Type Compatibility

You can assign a collection to a collection variable only if they have the same data type. Having the same element type is not enough.

In Example 5-8, VARRAY types triplet and trio have the same element type, VARCHAR(15). Collection variables group1 and group2 have the same data type, triplet, but collection variable group3 has the data type trio. The assignment of group1 to group2 succeeds, but the assignment of group1 to group3 fails.

Example 5-8 Data Type Compatibility for Collection Assignment

DECLARE
  TYPE triplet IS VARRAY(3) OF VARCHAR2(15);
  TYPE trio    IS VARRAY(3) OF VARCHAR2(15);
 
  group1 triplet := triplet('Jones', 'Wong', 'Marceau');
  group2 triplet;
  group3 trio;
BEGIN
  group2 := group1;  -- succeeds
  group3 := group1;  -- fails
END;
/

Result:

ERROR at line 10:
ORA-06550: line 10, column 13:
PLS-00382: expression is of wrong type
ORA-06550: line 10, column 3:
PL/SQL: Statement ignored

Assigning Null Values to Varray or Nested Table Variables

To a varray or nested table variable, you can assign the value NULL or a null collection of the same data type. Either assignment makes the variable null.

Example 5-7 initializes the nested table variable dname_tab to a non-null value; assigns a null collection to it, making it null; and re-initializes it to a different non-null value.

Example 5-9 Assigning Null Value to Nested Table Variable

DECLARE
  TYPE dnames_tab IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(30);
 
  dept_names dnames_tab := dnames_tab(
    'Shipping','Sales','Finance','Payroll');  -- Initialized to non-null value
 
  empty_set dnames_tab;  -- Not initialized, therefore null
 
  PROCEDURE print_dept_names_status IS
  BEGIN
    IF dept_names IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_names is null.');
    ELSE
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_names is not null.');
    END IF;
  END  print_dept_names_status;
 
BEGIN
  print_dept_names_status;
  dept_names := empty_set;  -- Assign null collection to dept_names.
  print_dept_names_status;
  dept_names := dnames_tab (
    'Shipping','Sales','Finance','Payroll');  -- Re-initialize dept_names
  print_dept_names_status;
END;
/

Result:

dept_names is not null.
dept_names is null.
dept_names is not null.

Assigning Set Operation Results to Nested Table Variables

To a nested table variable, you can assign the result of a SQL MULTISET operation or SQL SET function invocation.

The SQL MULTISET operators combine two nested tables into a single nested table. The elements of the two nested tables must have comparable data types. For information about the MULTISET operators, see Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.

The SQL SET function takes a nested table argument and returns a nested table of the same data type whose elements are distinct (the function eliminates duplicate elements). For information about the SET function, see Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.

Example 5-10 assigns the results of several MULTISET operations and one SET function invocation of the nested table variable answer, using the procedure print_nested_table to print answer after each assignment. The procedure use the collection methods FIRST and LAST, described in "Collection Methods".

Example 5-10 Assigning Set Operation Results to Nested Table Variable

DECLARE
  TYPE nested_typ IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
 
  nt1    nested_typ := nested_typ(1,2,3);
  nt2    nested_typ := nested_typ(3,2,1);
  nt3    nested_typ := nested_typ(2,3,1,3);
  nt4    nested_typ := nested_typ(1,2,4);
  answer nested_typ;
 
  PROCEDURE print_nested_table (nt nested_typ) IS
    output VARCHAR2(128);
  BEGIN
    IF nt IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Result: null set');
    ELSIF nt.COUNT = 0 THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Result: empty set');
    ELSE
      FOR i IN nt.FIRST .. nt.LAST LOOP  -- For first to last element
        output := output || nt(i) || ' ';
      END LOOP;
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Result: ' || output);
    END IF;
  END print_nested_table;
 
BEGIN
  answer := nt1 MULTISET UNION nt4;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt1 MULTISET UNION nt3;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt1 MULTISET UNION DISTINCT nt3;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt2 MULTISET INTERSECT nt3;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt2 MULTISET INTERSECT DISTINCT nt3;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := SET(nt3);
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt3 MULTISET EXCEPT nt2;
  print_nested_table(answer);
  answer := nt3 MULTISET EXCEPT DISTINCT nt2;
  print_nested_table(answer);
END;
/

Result:

Result: 1 2 3 1 2 4
Result: 1 2 3 2 3 1 3
Result: 1 2 3
Result: 3 2 1
Result: 3 2 1
Result: 2 3 1
Result: 3
Result: empty set

Multidimensional Collections

Although a collection has only one dimension, you can model a multidimensional collection with a collection whose elements are collections.

In Example 5-11, nva is a two-dimensional varray—a varray of varrays of integers.

Example 5-11 Two-Dimensional Varray (Varray of Varrays)

DECLARE
  TYPE t1 IS VARRAY(10) OF INTEGER;  -- varray of integer
  va t1 := t1(2,3,5);

  TYPE nt1 IS VARRAY(10) OF t1;      -- varray of varray of integer
  nva nt1 := nt1(va, t1(55,6,73), t1(2,4), va);

  i INTEGER;
  va1 t1;
BEGIN
  i := nva(2)(3);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('i = ' || i);

  nva.EXTEND;
  nva(5) := t1(56, 32);          -- replace inner varray elements
  nva(4) := t1(45,43,67,43345);  -- replace an inner integer element
  nva(4)(4) := 1;                -- replace 43345 with 1

  nva(4).EXTEND;    -- add element to 4th varray element
  nva(4)(5) := 89;  -- store integer 89 there
END;
/

Result:

i = 73

In Example 5-12, ntb1 is a nested table of nested tables of strings, and ntb2 is a nested table of varrays of integers.

Example 5-12 Nested Tables of Nested Tables and Varrays of Integers

DECLARE
  TYPE tb1 IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(20);  -- nested table of strings
  vtb1 tb1 := tb1('one', 'three');

  TYPE ntb1 IS TABLE OF tb1; -- nested table of nested tables of strings
  vntb1 ntb1 := ntb1(vtb1);

  TYPE tv1 IS VARRAY(10) OF INTEGER;  -- varray of integers
  TYPE ntb2 IS TABLE OF tv1;          -- nested table of varrays of integers
  vntb2 ntb2 := ntb2(tv1(3,5), tv1(5,7,3));

BEGIN
  vntb1.EXTEND;
  vntb1(2) := vntb1(1);
  vntb1.DELETE(1);     -- delete first element of vntb1
  vntb1(2).DELETE(1);  -- delete first string from second table in nested table
END;
/

In Example 5-13, aa1 is an associative array of associative arrays, and ntb2 is a nested table of varrays of strings.

Example 5-13 Nested Tables of Associative Arrays and Varrays of Strings

DECLARE
  TYPE tb1 IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;  -- associative arrays
  v4 tb1;
  v5 tb1;

  TYPE aa1 IS TABLE OF tb1 INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;  -- associative array of
  v2 aa1;                                         --  associative arrays

  TYPE va1 IS VARRAY(10) OF VARCHAR2(20);  -- varray of strings
  v1 va1 := va1('hello', 'world');

  TYPE ntb2 IS TABLE OF va1 INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;  -- associative array of varrays
  v3 ntb2;

BEGIN
  v4(1)   := 34;     -- populate associative array
  v4(2)   := 46456;
  v4(456) := 343;

  v2(23) := v4;  -- populate associative array of associative arrays

  v3(34) := va1(33, 456, 656, 343);  -- populate associative array varrays

  v2(35) := v5;      -- assign empty associative array to v2(35)
  v2(35)(2) := 78;
END;
/

Collection Comparisons

You cannot compare associative array variables to the value NULL or to each other.

Except for Comparing Nested Tables for Equality and Inequality, you cannot natively compare two collection variables with relational operators (listed in Table 2-5). This restriction also applies to implicit comparisons. For example, a collection variable cannot appear in a DISTINCT, GROUP BY, or ORDER BY clause.

To determine if one collection variable is less than another (for example), you must define what less than means in that context and write a function that returns TRUE or FALSE. For information about writing functions, see Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms."

Topics

Comparing Varray and Nested Table Variables to NULL
Comparing Nested Tables for Equality and Inequality
Comparing Nested Tables with SQL Multiset Conditions

Comparing Varray and Nested Table Variables to NULL

You can compare varray and nested table variables to the value NULL with the "IS [NOT] NULL Operator", but not with the relational operators equal (=) and not equal (<>, !=, ~=, or ^=).

Example 5-14 compares a varray variable and a nested table variable to NULL correctly.

Example 5-14 Comparing Varray and Nested Table Variables to NULL

DECLARE  
  TYPE Foursome IS VARRAY(4) OF VARCHAR2(15);  -- VARRAY type
  team Foursome;                               -- varray variable
  
  TYPE Roster IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(15);        -- nested table type
  names Roster := Roster('Adams', 'Patel');    -- nested table variable
  
BEGIN
  IF team IS NULL THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('team IS NULL');
  ELSE
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('team IS NOT NULL');
  END IF;
 
  IF names IS NOT NULL THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('names IS NOT NULL');
  ELSE
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('names IS NULL');
  END IF;
END;
/

Result:

team IS NULL
names IS NOT NULL

Comparing Nested Tables for Equality and Inequality

If two nested table variables have the same nested table type, and that nested table type does not have elements of a record type, then you can compare the two variables for equality or inequality with the relational operators equal (=) and not equal (<>, !=, ~=, ^=). Two nested table variables are equal if and only if they have the same set of elements (in any order).

See Also:

"Record Comparisons"

Example 5-15 compares nested table variables for equality and inequality with relational operators.

Example 5-15 Comparing Nested Tables for Equality and Inequality

DECLARE
  TYPE dnames_tab IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(30); -- element type is not record type

  dept_names1 dnames_tab :=
    dnames_tab('Shipping','Sales','Finance','Payroll');

  dept_names2 dnames_tab :=
    dnames_tab('Sales','Finance','Shipping','Payroll');

  dept_names3 dnames_tab :=
    dnames_tab('Sales','Finance','Payroll');

BEGIN
  IF dept_names1 = dept_names2 THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_names1 = dept_names2');
  END IF;

  IF dept_names2 != dept_names3 THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_names2 != dept_names3');
  END IF;
END;
/

Result:

dept_names1 = dept_names2
dept_names2 != dept_names3

Comparing Nested Tables with SQL Multiset Conditions

You can compare nested table variables, and test some of their properties, with SQL multiset conditions (described in Oracle Database SQL Language Reference).

Example 5-16 uses the SQL multiset conditions and two SQL functions that take nested table variable arguments, CARDINALITY (described in Oracle Database SQL Language Reference) and SET (described in Oracle Database SQL Language Reference).

Example 5-16 Comparing Nested Tables with SQL Multiset Conditions

DECLARE
  TYPE nested_typ IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
  nt1 nested_typ := nested_typ(1,2,3);
  nt2 nested_typ := nested_typ(3,2,1);
  nt3 nested_typ := nested_typ(2,3,1,3);
  nt4 nested_typ := nested_typ(1,2,4);
 
  PROCEDURE testify (
    truth BOOLEAN := NULL,
    quantity NUMBER := NULL
  ) IS
  BEGIN
    IF truth IS NOT NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
        CASE truth
           WHEN TRUE THEN 'True'
           WHEN FALSE THEN 'False'
        END
      );
    END IF;
    IF quantity IS NOT NULL THEN
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(quantity);
    END IF;
  END;
BEGIN
  testify(truth => (nt1 IN (nt2,nt3,nt4)));        -- condition
  testify(truth => (nt1 SUBMULTISET OF nt3));      -- condition
  testify(truth => (nt1 NOT SUBMULTISET OF nt4));  -- condition
  testify(truth => (4 MEMBER OF nt1));             -- condition
  testify(truth => (nt3 IS A SET));                -- condition
  testify(truth => (nt3 IS NOT A SET));            -- condition
  testify(truth => (nt1 IS EMPTY));                -- condition
  testify(quantity => (CARDINALITY(nt3)));         -- function
  testify(quantity => (CARDINALITY(SET(nt3))));    -- 2 functions
END;
/

Result:

True
True
True
False
False
True
False
4
3

Collection Methods

A collection method is a PL/SQL subprogram—either a function that returns information about a collection or a procedure that operates on a collection. Collection methods make collections easier to use and your applications easier to maintain. Table 5-2 summarizes the collection methods.

Note:

With a null collection, EXISTS is the only collection method that does not raise the predefined exception COLLECTION_IS_NULL.

Table 5-2 Collection Methods

Method	Type	Description
`DELETE`	Procedure	Deletes elements from collection.
`TRIM`	Procedure	Deletes elements from end of varray or nested table.
`EXTEND`	Procedure	Adds elements to end of varray or nested table.
`EXISTS`	Function	Returns `TRUE` if and only if specified element of varray or nested table exists.
`FIRST`	Function	Returns first index in collection.
`LAST`	Function	Returns last index in collection.
`COUNT`	Function	Returns number of elements in collection.
`LIMIT`	Function	Returns maximum number of elements that collection can have.
`PRIOR`	Function	Returns index that precedes specified index.
`NEXT`	Function	Returns index that succeeds specified index.

The basic syntax of a collection method invocation is:

collection_name.method

For detailed syntax, see "Collection Method Invocation".

A collection method invocation can appear anywhere that an invocation of a PL/SQL subprogram of its type (function or procedure) can appear, except in a SQL statement. (For general information about PL/SQL subprograms, see Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms.")

In a subprogram, a collection parameter assumes the properties of the argument bound to it. You can apply collection methods to such parameters. For varray parameters, the value of LIMIT is always derived from the parameter type definition, regardless of the parameter mode.

Topics

DELETE Collection Method
TRIM Collection Method
EXTEND Collection Method
EXISTS Collection Method
FIRST and LAST Collection Methods
COUNT Collection Method
LIMIT Collection Method
PRIOR and NEXT Collection Methods

DELETE Collection Method

DELETE is a procedure that deletes elements from a collection. This method has these forms:

DELETE deletes all elements from a collection of any type.

This operation immediately frees the memory allocated to the deleted elements.
From an associative array or nested table (but not a varray):
- DELETE(n) deletes the element whose index is n, if that element exists; otherwise, it does nothing.
- DELETE(m,n) deletes all elements whose indexes are in the range m..n, if both m and n exist and m <= n; otherwise, it does nothing.
For these two forms of DELETE, PL/SQL keeps placeholders for the deleted elements. Therefore, the deleted elements are included in the internal size of the collection, and you can restore a deleted element by assigning a valid value to it.

Example 5-17 declares a nested table variable, initializing it with six elements; deletes and then restores the second element; deletes a range of elements and then restores one of them; and then deletes all elements. The restored elements occupy the same memory as the corresponding deleted elements. The procedure print_nt prints the nested table variable after initialization and after each DELETE operation. The type nt_type and procedure print_nt are defined in Example 5-6.

Example 5-17 DELETE Method with Nested Table

DECLARE
  nt nt_type := nt_type(11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66);
BEGIN
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.DELETE(2);     -- Delete second element
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt(2) := 2222;    -- Restore second element
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.DELETE(2, 4);  -- Delete range of elements
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt(3) := 3333;    -- Restore third element
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.DELETE;        -- Delete all elements
  print_nt(nt);
END;
/

Result:

nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 44
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 44
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 2222
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 44
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(3) = 3333
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt is empty
---

Example 5-18 populates an associative array indexed by string and deletes all elements, which frees the memory allocated to them. Next, the example replaces the deleted elements—that is, adds new elements that have the same indexes as the deleted elements. The new replacement elements do not occupy the same memory as the corresponding deleted elements. Finally, the example deletes one element and then a range of elements. The procedure print_aa_str shows the effects of the operations.

Example 5-18 DELETE Method with Associative Array Indexed by String

DECLARE
  TYPE aa_type_str IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY VARCHAR2(10);
  aa_str  aa_type_str;
 
  PROCEDURE print_aa_str IS
    i  VARCHAR2(10);
  BEGIN
    i := aa_str.FIRST;
 
    IF i IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('aa_str is empty');
    ELSE
      WHILE i IS NOT NULL LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('aa_str.(' || i || ') = '); print(aa_str(i));
        i := aa_str.NEXT(i);
      END LOOP;
    END IF;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---');
  END print_aa_str;
 
BEGIN
  aa_str('M') := 13;
  aa_str('Z') := 26;
  aa_str('C') := 3;
  print_aa_str;
 
  aa_str.DELETE;  -- Delete all elements
  print_aa_str;
 
  aa_str('M') := 13;   -- Replace deleted element with same value
  aa_str('Z') := 260;  -- Replace deleted element with new value
  aa_str('C') := 30;   -- Replace deleted element with new value
  aa_str('W') := 23;   -- Add new element
  aa_str('J') := 10;   -- Add new element
  aa_str('N') := 14;   -- Add new element
  aa_str('P') := 16;   -- Add new element
  aa_str('W') := 23;   -- Add new element
  aa_str('J') := 10;   -- Add new element
  print_aa_str;
 
  aa_str.DELETE('C');      -- Delete one element
  print_aa_str;
 
  aa_str.DELETE('N','W');  -- Delete range of elements
  print_aa_str;
 
  aa_str.DELETE('Z','M');  -- Does nothing
  print_aa_str;
END;
/

Result:

aa_str.(C) = 3
aa_str.(M) = 13
aa_str.(Z) = 26
---
aa_str is empty
---
aa_str.(C) = 30
aa_str.(J) = 10
aa_str.(M) = 13
aa_str.(N) = 14
aa_str.(P) = 16
aa_str.(W) = 23
aa_str.(Z) = 260
---
aa_str.(J) = 10
aa_str.(M) = 13
aa_str.(N) = 14
aa_str.(P) = 16
aa_str.(W) = 23
aa_str.(Z) = 260
---
aa_str.(J) = 10
aa_str.(M) = 13
aa_str.(Z) = 260
---
aa_str.(J) = 10
aa_str.(M) = 13
aa_str.(Z) = 260
---

TRIM Collection Method

TRIM is a procedure that deletes elements from the end of a varray or nested table. This method has these forms:

TRIM removes one element from the end of the collection, if the collection has at least one element; otherwise, it raises the predefined exception SUBSCRIPT_BEYOND_COUNT.
TRIM(n) removes n elements from the end of the collection, if there are at least n elements at the end; otherwise, it raises the predefined exception SUBSCRIPT_BEYOND_COUNT.

TRIM operates on the internal size of a collection. That is, if DELETE deletes an element but keeps a placeholder for it, then TRIM considers the element to exist. Therefore, TRIM can delete a deleted element.

PL/SQL does not keep placeholders for trimmed elements. Therefore, trimmed elements are not included in the internal size of the collection, and you cannot restore a trimmed element by assigning a valid value to it.

Caution:

Do not depend on interaction between TRIM and DELETE. Treat nested tables like either fixed-size arrays (and use only DELETE) or stacks (and use only TRIM and EXTEND).

Example 5-19 declares a nested table variable, initializing it with six elements; trims the last element; deletes the fourth element; and then trims the last two elements—one of which is the deleted fourth element. The procedure print_nt prints the nested table variable after initialization and after the TRIM and DELETE operations. The type nt_type and procedure print_nt are defined in Example 5-6.

Example 5-19 TRIM Method with Nested Table

DECLARE
  nt nt_type := nt_type(11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66);
BEGIN
  print_nt(nt);

  nt.TRIM;       -- Trim last element
  print_nt(nt);

  nt.DELETE(4);  -- Delete fourth element
  print_nt(nt);

  nt.TRIM(2);    -- Trim last two elements
  print_nt(nt);
END;
/

Result:

nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 44
nt.(5) = 55
nt.(6) = 66
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 44
nt.(5) = 55
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(5) = 55
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
---

EXTEND Collection Method

EXTEND is a procedure that adds elements to the end of a varray or nested table. The collection can be empty, but not null. (To make a collection empty or add elements to a null collection, use a constructor. For more information, see "Collection Constructors".)

The EXTEND method has these forms:

EXTEND appends one null element to the collection.
EXTEND(n) appends n null elements to the collection.
EXTEND(n,i) appends n copies of the ith element to the collection.

Note:
EXTEND(n,i) is the only form that you can use for a collection whose elements have the NOT NULL constraint.

EXTEND operates on the internal size of a collection. That is, if DELETE deletes an element but keeps a placeholder for it, then EXTEND considers the element to exist.

Example 5-20 declares a nested table variable, initializing it with three elements; appends two copies of the first element; deletes the fifth (last) element; and then appends one null element. Because EXTEND considers the deleted fifth element to exist, the appended null element is the sixth element. The procedure print_nt prints the nested table variable after initialization and after the EXTEND and DELETE operations. The type nt_type and procedure print_nt are defined in Example 5-6.

Example 5-20 EXTEND Method with Nested Table

DECLARE
  nt nt_type := nt_type(11, 22, 33);
BEGIN
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.EXTEND(2,1);  -- Append two copies of first element
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.DELETE(5);    -- Delete fifth element
  print_nt(nt);
 
  nt.EXTEND;       -- Append one null element
  print_nt(nt);
END;
/

Result:

nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 11
nt.(5) = 11
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 11
---
nt.(1) = 11
nt.(2) = 22
nt.(3) = 33
nt.(4) = 11
nt.(6) = NULL
---

EXISTS Collection Method

EXISTS is a function that tells you whether the specified element of a varray or nested table exists.

EXISTS(n) returns TRUE if the nth element of the collection exists and FALSE otherwise. If n is out of range, EXISTS returns FALSE instead of raising the predefined exception SUBSCRIPT_OUTSIDE_LIMIT.

For a deleted element, EXISTS(n) returns FALSE, even if DELETE kept a placeholder for it.

Example 5-21 initializes a nested table with four elements, deletes the second element, and prints either the value or status of elements 1 through 6.

Example 5-21 EXISTS Method with Nested Table

DECLARE
  TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF INTEGER;
  n NumList := NumList(1,3,5,7);
BEGIN
  n.DELETE(2); -- Delete second element
 
  FOR i IN 1..6 LOOP
    IF n.EXISTS(i) THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n(' || i || ') = ' || n(i));
    ELSE
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n(' || i || ') does not exist');
    END IF;
  END LOOP;
END;
/

Result:

n(1) = 1
n(2) does not exist
n(3) = 5
n(4) = 7
n(5) does not exist
n(6) does not exist

FIRST and LAST Collection Methods

FIRST and LAST are functions. If the collection has at least one element, FIRST and LAST return the indexes of the first and last elements, respectively (ignoring deleted elements, even if DELETE kept placeholders for them). If the collection has only one element, FIRST and LAST return the same index. If the collection is empty, FIRST and LAST return NULL.

Topics

FIRST and LAST Methods for Associative Array
FIRST and LAST Methods for Varray
FIRST and LAST Methods for Nested Table

FIRST and LAST Methods for Associative Array

For an associative array indexed by PLS_INTEGER, the first and last elements are those with the smallest and largest indexes, respectively.

Example 5-22 shows the values of FIRST and LAST for an associative array indexed by PLS_INTEGER, deletes the first and last elements, and shows the values of FIRST and LAST again.

Example 5-22 FIRST and LAST Values for Associative Array Indexed by PLS_INTEGER

DECLARE
  TYPE aa_type_int IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
  aa_int  aa_type_int;
 
  PROCEDURE print_first_and_last IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('FIRST = ' || aa_int.FIRST);
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('LAST = ' || aa_int.LAST);
  END print_first_and_last;
 
BEGIN
  aa_int(1) := 3;
  aa_int(2) := 6;
  aa_int(3) := 9;
  aa_int(4) := 12;
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Before deletions:');
  print_first_and_last;
 
  aa_int.DELETE(1);
  aa_int.DELETE(4);
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('After deletions:');
  print_first_and_last;
END;
/

Result:

Before deletions:
FIRST = 1
LAST = 4
After deletions:
FIRST = 2
LAST = 3

For an associative array indexed by string, the first and last elements are those with the lowest and highest key values, respectively. Key values are in sorted order (for more information, see "NLS Parameter Values Affect Associative Arrays Indexed by String").

Example 5-23 shows the values of FIRST and LAST for an associative array indexed by string, deletes the first and last elements, and shows the values of FIRST and LAST again.

Example 5-23 FIRST and LAST Values for Associative Array Indexed by String

DECLARE
  TYPE aa_type_str IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY VARCHAR2(10);
  aa_str  aa_type_str;
 
  PROCEDURE print_first_and_last IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('FIRST = ' || aa_str.FIRST);
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('LAST = ' || aa_str.LAST);
  END print_first_and_last;
 
BEGIN
  aa_str('Z') := 26;
  aa_str('A') := 1;
  aa_str('K') := 11;
  aa_str('R') := 18;
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Before deletions:');
  print_first_and_last;
 
  aa_str.DELETE('A');
  aa_str.DELETE('Z');
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('After deletions:');
  print_first_and_last;
END;
/

Result:

Before deletions:
FIRST = A
LAST = Z
After deletions:
FIRST = K
LAST = R

FIRST and LAST Methods for Varray

For a varray that is not empty, FIRST always returns 1. For every varray, LAST always equals COUNT (see Example 5-26).

Example 5-24 prints the varray team using a FOR LOOP statement with the bounds team.FIRST and team.LAST. Because a varray is always dense, team(i) inside the loop always exists.

Example 5-24 Printing Varray with FIRST and LAST in FOR LOOP

DECLARE
  TYPE team_type IS VARRAY(4) OF VARCHAR2(15);
  team team_type;
 
  PROCEDURE print_team (heading VARCHAR2)
  IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(heading);
 
    IF team IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Does not exist');
    ELSIF team.FIRST IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Has no members');
    ELSE
      FOR i IN team.FIRST..team.LAST LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(i || '. ' || team(i));
      END LOOP;
    END IF;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---'); 
  END;
  
BEGIN 
  print_team('Team Status:');
 
  team := team_type();  -- Team is funded, but nobody is on it.
  print_team('Team Status:');
 
  team := team_type('John', 'Mary');  -- Put 2 members on team.
  print_team('Initial Team:');
 
  team := team_type('Arun', 'Amitha', 'Allan', 'Mae');  -- Change team.
  print_team('New Team:');
END;
/

Result:

Team Status:
Does not exist
---
Team Status:
Has no members
---
Initial Team:
1. John
2. Mary
---
New Team:
1. Arun
2. Amitha
3. Allan
4. Mae
---

FIRST and LAST Methods for Nested Table

For a nested table, LAST equals COUNT unless you delete elements from its middle, in which case LAST is larger than COUNT (see Example 5-27).

Example 5-25 prints the nested table team using a FOR LOOP statement with the bounds team.FIRST and team.LAST. Because a nested table can be sparse, the FOR LOOP statement prints team(i) only if team.EXISTS(i) is TRUE.

Example 5-25 Printing Nested Table with FIRST and LAST in FOR LOOP

DECLARE
  TYPE team_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(15);
  team team_type;
 
  PROCEDURE print_team (heading VARCHAR2) IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(heading);
 
    IF team IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Does not exist');
    ELSIF team.FIRST IS NULL THEN
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Has no members');
    ELSE
      FOR i IN team.FIRST..team.LAST LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT(i || '. ');
        IF team.EXISTS(i) THEN
          DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(team(i));
        ELSE
          DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('(to be hired)');
        END IF;
      END LOOP;
    END IF;
 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---'); 
  END;
  
BEGIN 
  print_team('Team Status:');
 
  team := team_type();  -- Team is funded, but nobody is on it.
  print_team('Team Status:');
 
  team := team_type('Arun', 'Amitha', 'Allan', 'Mae');  -- Add members.
  print_team('Initial Team:');
 
  team.DELETE(2,3);  -- Remove 2nd and 3rd members.
  print_team('Current Team:');
END;
/

Result:

Team Status:
Does not exist
---
Team Status:
Has no members
---
Initial Team:
1. Arun
2. Amitha
3. Allan
4. Mae
---
Current Team:
1. Arun
2. (to be hired)
3. (to be hired)
4. Mae
---

COUNT Collection Method

COUNT is a function that returns the number of elements in the collection (ignoring deleted elements, even if DELETE kept placeholders for them).

Topics

COUNT Method for Varray
COUNT Method for Nested Table

COUNT Method for Varray

For a varray, COUNT always equals LAST. If you increase or decrease the size of a varray (with the EXTEND or TRIM method), the value of COUNT changes.

Example 5-26 shows the values of COUNT and LAST for a varray after initialization with four elements, after EXTEND(3), and after TRIM(5).

Example 5-26 COUNT and LAST Values for Varray

DECLARE
  TYPE NumList IS VARRAY(10) OF INTEGER;
  n NumList := NumList(1,3,5,7);
 
  PROCEDURE print_count_and_last IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('n.COUNT = ' || n.COUNT || ', ');
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n.LAST = ' || n.LAST);
  END  print_count_and_last;
 
BEGIN
  print_count_and_last;
 
  n.EXTEND(3);
  print_count_and_last;
 
  n.TRIM(5);
  print_count_and_last;
END;
/

Result:

n.COUNT = 4, n.LAST = 4
n.COUNT = 7, n.LAST = 7
n.COUNT = 2, n.LAST = 2

COUNT Method for Nested Table

For a nested table, COUNT equals LAST unless you delete elements from the middle of the nested table, in which case COUNT is smaller than LAST.

Example 5-27 shows the values of COUNT and LAST for a nested table after initialization with four elements, after deleting the third element, and after adding two null elements to the end. Finally, the example prints the status of elements 1 through 8.

Example 5-27 COUNT and LAST Values for Nested Table

DECLARE
  TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF INTEGER;
  n NumList := NumList(1,3,5,7);
 
  PROCEDURE print_count_and_last IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('n.COUNT = ' || n.COUNT || ', ');
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n.LAST = ' || n.LAST);
  END  print_count_and_last;
 
BEGIN
  print_count_and_last;
 
  n.DELETE(3);  -- Delete third element
  print_count_and_last;
 
  n.EXTEND(2);  -- Add two null elements to end
  print_count_and_last;
 
  FOR i IN 1..8 LOOP
    IF n.EXISTS(i) THEN
      IF n(i) IS NOT NULL THEN
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n(' || i || ') = ' || n(i));
      ELSE
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n(' || i || ') = NULL');
      END IF;
    ELSE
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('n(' || i || ') does not exist');
    END IF;
  END LOOP;
END;
/

Result:

n.COUNT = 4, n.LAST = 4
n.COUNT = 3, n.LAST = 4
n.COUNT = 5, n.LAST = 6
n(1) = 1
n(2) = 3
n(3) does not exist
n(4) = 7
n(5) = NULL
n(6) = NULL
n(7) does not exist
n(8) does not exist

LIMIT Collection Method

LIMIT is a function that returns the maximum number of elements that the collection can have. If the collection has no maximum number of elements, LIMIT returns NULL. Only a varray has a maximum size.

Example 5-28 and prints the values of LIMIT and COUNT for an associative array with four elements, a varray with two elements, and a nested table with three elements.

Example 5-28 LIMIT and COUNT Values for Different Collection Types

DECLARE
  TYPE aa_type IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
  aa aa_type;                          -- associative array
 
  TYPE va_type IS VARRAY(4) OF INTEGER;
  va  va_type := va_type(2,4);   -- varray
 
  TYPE nt_type IS TABLE OF INTEGER;
  nt  nt_type := nt_type(1,3,5);  -- nested table
 
BEGIN
  aa(1):=3; aa(2):=6; aa(3):=9; aa(4):= 12;
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('aa.COUNT = '); print(aa.COUNT);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('aa.LIMIT = '); print(aa.LIMIT);
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('va.COUNT = '); print(va.COUNT);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('va.LIMIT = '); print(va.LIMIT);
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('nt.COUNT = '); print(nt.COUNT);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('nt.LIMIT = '); print(nt.LIMIT);
END;
/

Result:

aa.COUNT = 4
aa.LIMIT = NULL
va.COUNT = 2
va.LIMIT = 4
nt.COUNT = 3
nt.LIMIT = NULL

PRIOR and NEXT Collection Methods

PRIOR and NEXT are functions that let you move backward and forward in the collection (ignoring deleted elements, even if DELETE kept placeholders for them). These methods are useful for traversing sparse collections.

Given an index:

PRIOR returns the index of the preceding existing element of the collection, if one exists. Otherwise, PRIOR returns NULL.

For any collection c, c.PRIOR(c.FIRST) returns NULL.
NEXT returns the index of the succeeding existing element of the collection, if one exists. Otherwise, NEXT returns NULL.

For any collection c, c.NEXT(c.LAST) returns NULL.

The given index need not exist. However, if the collection c is a varray, and the index exceeds c.LIMIT, then:

c.PRIOR(index) returns c.LAST.
c.NEXT(index) returns NULL.

For example:

DECLARE
  TYPE Arr_Type IS VARRAY(10) OF NUMBER;
  v_Numbers Arr_Type := Arr_Type();
BEGIN
  v_Numbers.EXTEND(4);
 
  v_Numbers (1) := 10;
  v_Numbers (2) := 20;
  v_Numbers (3) := 30;
  v_Numbers (4) := 40;
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(NVL(v_Numbers.prior (3400), -1));
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(NVL(v_Numbers.next (3400), -1));
END;
/

Result:

4
-1

Example 5-29 initializes a nested table with six elements, deletes the fourth element, and then shows the values of PRIOR and NEXT for elements 1 through 7. Elements 4 and 7 do not exist. Element 2 exists, despite its null value.

Example 5-29 PRIOR and NEXT Methods

DECLARE
  TYPE nt_type IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
  nt nt_type := nt_type(18, NULL, 36, 45, 54, 63);
 
BEGIN
  nt.DELETE(4);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('nt(4) was deleted.');
 
  FOR i IN 1..7 LOOP
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('nt.PRIOR(' || i || ') = '); print(nt.PRIOR(i));
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('nt.NEXT(' || i || ')  = '); print(nt.NEXT(i));
  END LOOP;
END;
/

Result:

nt(4) was deleted.
nt.PRIOR(1) = NULL
nt.NEXT(1)  = 2
nt.PRIOR(2) = 1
nt.NEXT(2)  = 3
nt.PRIOR(3) = 2
nt.NEXT(3)  = 5
nt.PRIOR(4) = 3
nt.NEXT(4)  = 5
nt.PRIOR(5) = 3
nt.NEXT(5)  = 6
nt.PRIOR(6) = 5
nt.NEXT(6)  = NULL
nt.PRIOR(7) = 6
nt.NEXT(7)  = NULL

For an associative array indexed by string, the prior and next indexes are determined by key values, which are in sorted order (for more information, see "NLS Parameter Values Affect Associative Arrays Indexed by String"). Example 5-1 uses FIRST, NEXT, and a WHILE LOOP statement to print the elements of an associative array.

Example 5-30 prints the elements of a sparse nested table from first to last, using FIRST and NEXT, and from last to first, using LAST and PRIOR.

Example 5-30 Printing Elements of Sparse Nested Table

DECLARE
  TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
  n NumList := NumList(1, 2, NULL, NULL, 5, NULL, 7, 8, 9, NULL);
  idx INTEGER;
 
BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('First to last:');
  idx := n.FIRST;
  WHILE idx IS NOT NULL LOOP
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('n(' || idx || ') = ');
    print(n(idx));
    idx := n.NEXT(idx);
  END LOOP;
    
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('--------------');
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Last to first:');
  idx := n.LAST;
  WHILE idx IS NOT NULL LOOP
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('n(' || idx || ') = ');
    print(n(idx));
    idx := n.PRIOR(idx);
  END LOOP;
END;
/

Result:

First to last:
n(1) = 1
n(2) = 2
n(3) = NULL
n(4) = NULL
n(5) = 5
n(6) = NULL
n(7) = 7
n(8) = 8
n(9) = 9
n(10) = NULL
--------------
Last to first:
n(10) = NULL
n(9) = 9
n(8) = 8
n(7) = 7
n(6) = NULL
n(5) = 5
n(4) = NULL
n(3) = NULL
n(2) = 2
n(1) = 1

Collection Types Defined in Package Specifications

A collection type defined in a package specification is incompatible with an identically defined local or standalone collection type.

Note:

The examples in this topic define packages and procedures, which are explained in Chapter 10, "PL/SQL Packages" and Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms," respectively.

In Example 5-31, the package specification and the anonymous block define the collection type NumList identically. The package defines a procedure, print_numlist, which has a NumList parameter. The anonymous block declares the variable n1 of the type pkg.NumList (defined in the package) and the variable n2 of the type NumList (defined in the block). The anonymous block can pass n1 to print_numlist, but it cannot pass n2 to print_numlist.

Example 5-31 Identically Defined Package and Local Collection Types

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE pkg AS
  TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
  PROCEDURE print_numlist (nums NumList);
END pkg;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY pkg AS
  PROCEDURE print_numlist (nums NumList) IS
  BEGIN
    FOR i IN nums.FIRST..nums.LAST LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(nums(i));
    END LOOP;
  END;
END pkg;
/
DECLARE
  TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF NUMBER;  -- local type identical to package type
  n1 pkg.NumList := pkg.NumList(2,4);  -- package type
  n2     NumList :=     NumList(6,8);  -- local type
BEGIN
  pkg.print_numlist(n1);  -- succeeds
  pkg.print_numlist(n2);  -- fails
END;
/

Result:

  pkg.print_numlist(n2);  -- fails
  *
ERROR at line 7:
ORA-06550: line 7, column 3:
PLS-00306: wrong number or types of arguments in call to 'PRINT_NUMLIST'
ORA-06550: line 7, column 3:
PL/SQL: Statement ignored

Example 5-32 defines a standalone collection type NumList that is identical to the collection type NumList defined in the package specification in Example 5-31. The anonymous block declares the variable n1 of the type pkg.NumList (defined in the package) and the variable n2 of the standalone type NumList. The anonymous block can pass n1 to print_numlist, but it cannot pass n2 to print_numlist.

Example 5-32 Identically Defined Package and Standalone Collection Types

CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE NumList IS TABLE OF NUMBER;
  -- standalone collection type identical to package type
/
DECLARE
  n1 pkg.NumList := pkg.NumList(2,4);  -- package type
  n2     NumList :=     NumList(6,8);  -- standalone type
 
BEGIN
  pkg.print_numlist(n1);  -- succeeds
  pkg.print_numlist(n2);  -- fails
END;
/

Result:

  pkg.print_numlist(n2);  -- fails
  *
ERROR at line 7:
ORA-06550: line 7, column 3:
PLS-00306: wrong number or types of arguments in call to 'PRINT_NUMLIST'
ORA-06550: line 7, column 3:
PL/SQL: Statement ignored

Record Variables

You can create a record variable in any of these ways:

Define a RECORD type and then declare a variable of that type.
Use %TYPE to declare a record variable of the same type as a previously declared record variable.
Use %ROWTYPE to declare a record variable that represents either a full or partial row of a database table or view.

For syntax and semantics, see "Record Variable Declaration".

Topics

Initial Values of Record Variables
Declaring Record Constants
RECORD Types
%ROWTYPE Attribute

Initial Values of Record Variables

For a record variable of a RECORD type, the initial value of each field is NULL unless you specify a different initial value for it when you define the type. For a record variable declared with %TYPE, each field inherits the initial value of its corresponding field in the referenced record. See Example 5-34.

For a record variable declared with %ROWTYPE, the initial value of each field is NULL. See Example 5-39.

Declaring Record Constants

When declaring a record constant, you must create a function that populates the record with its initial value and then invoke the function in the constant declaration, as in Example 5-33.

Example 5-33 Declaring Record Constant

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE My_Types AUTHID DEFINER IS
  TYPE My_Rec IS RECORD (a NUMBER, b NUMBER);
  FUNCTION Init_My_Rec RETURN My_Rec;
END My_Types;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY My_Types IS
  FUNCTION Init_My_Rec RETURN My_Rec IS
    Rec My_Rec;
  BEGIN
    Rec.a := 0;
    Rec.b := 1;
    RETURN Rec;
  END Init_My_Rec;
END My_Types;
/
DECLARE
  r CONSTANT My_Types.My_Rec := My_Types.Init_My_Rec();
BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('r.a = ' || r.a);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('r.b = ' || r.b);
END;
/

Result:

r.a = 0
r.b = 1
 
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

RECORD Types

A RECORD type defined in a PL/SQL block is a local type. It is available only in the block, and is stored in the database only if the block is in a standalone or package subprogram. (Standalone and package subprograms are explained in "Nested, Package, and Standalone Subprograms").

A RECORD type defined in a package specification is a public item. You can reference it from outside the package by qualifying it with the package name (package_name.type_name). It is stored in the database until you drop the package with the DROP PACKAGE statement. (Packages are explained in Chapter 10, "PL/SQL Packages.")

You cannot create a RECORD type at schema level. Therefore, a RECORD type cannot be an ADT attribute data type.

Note:

A RECORD type defined in a package specification is incompatible with an identically defined local RECORD type (see Example 5-37).

To define a RECORD type, specify its name and define its fields. To define a field, specify its name and data type. By default, the initial value of a field is NULL. You can specify the NOT NULL constraint for a field, in which case you must also specify a non-NULL initial value. Without the NOT NULL constraint, a non-NULL initial value is optional.

Example 5-34 defines a RECORD type named DeptRecTyp, specifying an initial value for each field except loc_id. Next, it declares the variable dept_rec of the type DeptRecTyp and the variable dept_rec_2 of the type dept_rec%TYPE. Finally, it prints the fields of the two record variables, showing that in both records, loc_id has the value NULL, and all other fields have their default values.

Example 5-34 RECORD Type Definition and Variable Declarations

DECLARE
  TYPE DeptRecTyp IS RECORD (
    dept_id    NUMBER(4) NOT NULL := 10,
    dept_name  VARCHAR2(30) NOT NULL := 'Administration',
    mgr_id     NUMBER(6) := 200,
    loc_id     NUMBER(4)
  );
 
  dept_rec DeptRecTyp;
  dept_rec_2 dept_rec%TYPE;
BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_rec:');
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('---------');
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_id:   ' || dept_rec.dept_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_name: ' || dept_rec.dept_name);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('mgr_id:    ' || dept_rec.mgr_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('loc_id:    ' || dept_rec.loc_id);
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('-----------');
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_rec_2:');
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('-----------');
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_id:   ' || dept_rec_2.dept_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_name: ' || dept_rec_2.dept_name);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('mgr_id:    ' || dept_rec_2.mgr_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('loc_id:    ' || dept_rec_2.loc_id);
END;
/

Result:

dept_rec:
---------
dept_id:   10
dept_name: Administration
mgr_id:    200
loc_id:
-----------
dept_rec_2:
-----------
dept_id:   10
dept_name: Administration
mgr_id:    200
loc_id:
 
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Example 5-35 defines two RECORD types, name_rec and contact. The type contact has a field of type name_rec.

Example 5-35 RECORD Type with RECORD Field (Nested Record)

DECLARE
  TYPE name_rec IS RECORD (
    first  employees.first_name%TYPE,
    last   employees.last_name%TYPE
  );
 
  TYPE contact IS RECORD (
    name  name_rec,                    -- nested record
    phone employees.phone_number%TYPE
  );
 
  friend contact;
BEGIN
  friend.name.first := 'John';
  friend.name.last := 'Smith';
  friend.phone := '1-650-555-1234';
  
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    friend.name.first  || ' ' ||
    friend.name.last   || ', ' ||
    friend.phone
  );
END;
/

Result:

John Smith, 1-650-555-1234

Example 5-36 defines a VARRAY type, full_name, and a RECORD type, contact. The type contact has a field of type full_name.

Example 5-36 RECORD Type with Varray Field

DECLARE
  TYPE full_name IS VARRAY(2) OF VARCHAR2(20);
 
  TYPE contact IS RECORD (
    name  full_name := full_name('John', 'Smith'),  -- varray field
    phone employees.phone_number%TYPE
  );
 
  friend contact;
BEGIN
  friend.phone := '1-650-555-1234';
  
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    friend.name(1) || ' ' ||
    friend.name(2) || ', ' ||
    friend.phone
  );
END;
/

Result:

John Smith, 1-650-555-1234

A RECORD type defined in a package specification is incompatible with an identically defined local RECORD type.

Note:

The example in this topic defines a package and a procedure, which are explained in Chapter 10, "PL/SQL Packages" and Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms," respectively.

In Example 5-37, the package pkg and the anonymous block define the RECORD type rec_type identically. The package defines a procedure, print_rec_type, which has a rec_type parameter. The anonymous block declares the variable r1 of the package type (pkg.rec_type) and the variable r2 of the local type (rec_type). The anonymous block can pass r1 to print_rec_type, but it cannot pass r2 to print_rec_type.

Example 5-37 Identically Defined Package and Local RECORD Types

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE pkg AS
  TYPE rec_type IS RECORD (       -- package RECORD type
    f1 INTEGER,
    f2 VARCHAR2(4)
  );
  PROCEDURE print_rec_type (rec rec_type);
END pkg;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY pkg AS
  PROCEDURE print_rec_type (rec rec_type) IS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(rec.f1);
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(rec.f2);
  END; 
END pkg;
/
DECLARE
  TYPE rec_type IS RECORD (       -- local RECORD type
    f1 INTEGER,
    f2 VARCHAR2(4)
  );
  r1 pkg.rec_type;                -- package type
  r2     rec_type;                -- local type
 
BEGIN
  r1.f1 := 10; r1.f2 := 'abcd';
  r2.f1 := 25; r2.f2 := 'wxyz';
 
  pkg.print_rec_type(r1);  -- succeeds
  pkg.print_rec_type(r2);  -- fails
END;
/

Result:

  pkg.print_rec_type(r2);  -- fails
  *
ERROR at line 14:
ORA-06550: line 14, column 3:
PLS-00306: wrong number or types of arguments in call to 'PRINT_REC_TYPE'
ORA-06550: line 14, column 3:
PL/SQL: Statement ignored

%ROWTYPE Attribute

The %ROWTYPE attribute lets you declare a record variable that represents either a full or partial row of a database table or view. For every column of the full or partial row, the record has a field with the same name and data type. If the structure of the row changes, then the structure of the record changes accordingly.

The record fields do not inherit the constraints or initial values of the corresponding columns (see Example 5-39).

Topics

Record Variable that Always Represents Full Row
Record Variable that Can Represent Partial Row
%ROWTYPE Attribute and Virtual Columns

Record Variable that Always Represents Full Row

To declare a record variable that always represents a full row of a database table or view, use this syntax:

variable_name table_or_view_name%ROWTYPE;

For every column of the table or view, the record has a field with the same name and data type.

See Also:

"%ROWTYPE Attribute" for more information about %ROWTYPE

Example 5-38 declares a record variable that represents a row of the table departments, assigns values to its fields, and prints them. Compare this example to Example 5-34.

Example 5-38 %ROWTYPE Variable Represents Full Database Table Row

DECLARE
  dept_rec departments%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
  -- Assign values to fields:
  
  dept_rec.department_id   := 10;
  dept_rec.department_name := 'Administration';
  dept_rec.manager_id      := 200;
  dept_rec.location_id     := 1700;
 
  -- Print fields:
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_id:   ' || dept_rec.department_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('dept_name: ' || dept_rec.department_name);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('mgr_id:    ' || dept_rec.manager_id);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('loc_id:    ' || dept_rec.location_id);
END;
/

Result:

dept_id:   10
dept_name: Administration
mgr_id:    200
loc_id:    1700

Example 5-39 creates a table with two columns, each with an initial value and a NOT NULL constraint. Then it declares a record variable that represents a row of the table and prints its fields, showing that they did not inherit the initial values or NOT NULL constraints.

Example 5-39 %ROWTYPE Variable Does Not Inherit Initial Values or Constraints

DROP TABLE t1;
CREATE TABLE t1 (
  c1 INTEGER DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
  c2 INTEGER DEFAULT 1 NOT NULL
);
 
DECLARE
  t1_row t1%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('t1.c1 = '); print(t1_row.c1);
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT('t1.c2 = '); print(t1_row.c2);
END;
/

Result:

t1.c1 = NULL
t1.c2 = NULL

Record Variable that Can Represent Partial Row

To declare a record variable that can represent a partial row of a database table or view, use this syntax:

variable_name cursor%ROWTYPE;

A cursor is associated with a query. For every column that the query selects, the record variable must have a corresponding, type-compatible field. If the query selects every column of the table or view, then the variable represents a full row; otherwise, the variable represents a partial row. The cursor must be either an explicit cursor or a strong cursor variable.

See Also:

"FETCH Statement" for complete syntax
"Cursors" for information about cursors
"Explicit Cursors" for information about explicit cursors
"Cursor Variables" for information about cursor variables

Example 5-40 defines an explicit cursor whose query selects only the columns first_name, last_name, and phone_number from the employees table in the sample schema HR. Then the example declares a record variable that has a field for each column that the cursor selects. The variable represents a partial row of employees. Compare this example to Example 5-35.

Example 5-40 %ROWTYPE Variable Represents Partial Database Table Row

DECLARE
  CURSOR c IS
    SELECT first_name, last_name, phone_number
    FROM employees;
 
  friend c%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
  friend.first_name   := 'John';
  friend.last_name    := 'Smith';
  friend.phone_number := '1-650-555-1234';
  
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    friend.first_name  || ' ' ||
    friend.last_name   || ', ' ||
    friend.phone_number
  );
END;
/

Result:

John Smith, 1-650-555-1234

Example 5-40 defines an explicit cursor whose query is a join and then declares a record variable that has a field for each column that the cursor selects. (For information about joins, see Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.)

Example 5-41 %ROWTYPE Variable Represents Join Row

DECLARE
  CURSOR c2 IS
    SELECT employee_id, email, employees.manager_id, location_id
    FROM employees, departments
    WHERE employees.department_id = departments.department_id;
  
  join_rec c2%ROWTYPE;  -- includes columns from two tables
  
BEGIN
  NULL;
END;
/

%ROWTYPE Attribute and Virtual Columns

If you use the %ROWTYPE attribute to define a record variable that represents a full row of a table that has a virtual column, then you cannot insert that record into the table. Instead, you must insert the individual record fields into the table, excluding the virtual column.

Example 5-42 creates a record variable that represents a full row of a table that has a virtual column, populates the record, and inserts the record into the table, causing ORA-54013.

Example 5-42 Inserting %ROWTYPE Record into Table (Wrong)

DROP TABLE plch_departure;
 
CREATE TABLE plch_departure (
  destination    VARCHAR2(100),
  departure_time DATE,
  delay          NUMBER(10),
  expected       GENERATED ALWAYS AS (departure_time + delay/24/60/60)
);
 
 
DECLARE
 dep_rec plch_departure%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
  dep_rec.destination := 'X'; 
  dep_rec.departure_time := SYSDATE;
  dep_rec.delay := 1500;
 
  INSERT INTO plch_departure VALUES dep_rec;
END;
/

Result:

DECLARE
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-54013: INSERT operation disallowed on virtual columns
ORA-06512: at line 8

Example 5-43 solves the problem in Example 5-42 by inserting the individual record fields into the table, excluding the virtual column.

Example 5-43 Inserting %ROWTYPE Record into Table (Right)

DECLARE
  dep_rec plch_departure%rowtype;
BEGIN
  dep_rec.destination := 'X';
  dep_rec.departure_time := SYSDATE;
  dep_rec.delay := 1500;
 
  INSERT INTO plch_departure (destination, departure_time, delay)
  VALUES (dep_rec.destination, dep_rec.departure_time, dep_rec.delay);
end;
/

Result:

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Assigning Values to Record Variables

Note:

In this topic, record variable means either a record variable or a record component of a composite variable (for example, friend.name in Example 5-35).

To any record variable, you can assign a value to each field individually.

In some cases, you can assign the value of one record variable to another record variable.

If a record variable represents a full or partial row of a database table or view, you can assign the represented row to the record variable.

Topics

Assigning One Record Variable to Another
Assigning Full or Partial Rows to Record Variables
Assigning NULL to Record Variable

Assigning One Record Variable to Another

You can assign the value of one record variable to another record variable only in these cases:

The two variables have the same RECORD type (as in Example 5-44).
The target variable is declared with a RECORD type, the source variable is declared with %ROWTYPE, their fields match in number and order, and corresponding fields have the same data type (as in Example 5-45).

For record components of composite variables, the types of the composite variables need not match (see Example 5-46).

Example 5-44 Assigning Record to Another Record of Same RECORD Type

DECLARE
  TYPE name_rec IS RECORD (
    first  employees.first_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'John',
    last   employees.last_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'Doe'
  );
 
  name1 name_rec;
  name2 name_rec;
 
BEGIN
  name1.first := 'Jane'; name1.last := 'Smith'; 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('name1: ' || name1.first || ' ' || name1.last);
  name2 := name1;
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('name2: ' || name2.first || ' ' || name2.last); 
END;
/

Result:

name1: Jane Smith
name2: Jane Smith

Example 5-45 Assigning %ROWTYPE Record to RECORD Type Record

DECLARE
  TYPE name_rec IS RECORD (
    first  employees.first_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'John',
    last   employees.last_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'Doe'
  );
 
  CURSOR c IS
    SELECT first_name, last_name
    FROM employees;
 
  target name_rec;
  source c%ROWTYPE;
 
BEGIN
  source.first_name := 'Jane'; source.last_name := 'Smith';
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    'source: ' || source.first_name || ' ' || source.last_name
  );
 
 target := source;
 
 DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
   'target: ' || target.first || ' ' || target.last
 );
END;
/

Result:

source: Jane Smith
target: Jane Smith

Example 5-46 assigns the value of one nested record to another nested record. The nested records have the same RECORD type, but the records in which they are nested do not.

Example 5-46 Assigning Nested Record to Another Record of Same RECORD Type

DECLARE
  TYPE name_rec IS RECORD (
    first  employees.first_name%TYPE,
    last   employees.last_name%TYPE
  );
 
  TYPE phone_rec IS RECORD (
    name  name_rec,                    -- nested record
    phone employees.phone_number%TYPE
  );
 
  TYPE email_rec IS RECORD (
    name  name_rec,                    -- nested record
    email employees.email%TYPE
  );
 
  phone_contact phone_rec;
  email_contact email_rec;
 
BEGIN
  phone_contact.name.first := 'John';
  phone_contact.name.last := 'Smith';
  phone_contact.phone := '1-650-555-1234';
 
  email_contact.name := phone_contact.name;
  email_contact.email := (
    email_contact.name.first || '.' ||
    email_contact.name.last  || '@' ||
    'example.com' 
  );
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (email_contact.email);
END;
/

Result:

John.Smith@example.com

Assigning Full or Partial Rows to Record Variables

If a record variable represents a full or partial row of a database table or view, you can assign the represented row to the record variable.

Topics

SELECT INTO Statement for Assigning Row to Record Variable
FETCH Statement for Assigning Row to Record Variable
SQL Statements that Return Rows in PL/SQL Record Variables

SELECT INTO Statement for Assigning Row to Record Variable

The syntax of a simple SELECT INTO statement is:

SELECT select_list INTO record_variable_name FROM table_or_view_name;

For each column in select_list, the record variable must have a corresponding, type-compatible field. The columns in select_list must appear in the same order as the record fields.

See Also:

"SELECT INTO Statement" for complete syntax

In Example 5-47, the record variable rec1 represents a partial row of the employees table—the columns last_name and employee_id. The SELECT INTO statement selects from employees the row for which job_id is 'AD_PRES' and assigns the values of the columns last_name and employee_id in that row to the corresponding fields of rec1.

Example 5-47 SELECT INTO Assigns Values to Record Variable

DECLARE
  TYPE RecordTyp IS RECORD (
    last employees.last_name%TYPE,
    id   employees.employee_id%TYPE
  );
  rec1 RecordTyp;
BEGIN
  SELECT last_name, employee_id INTO rec1
  FROM employees
  WHERE job_id = 'AD_PRES';

  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('Employee #' || rec1.id || ' = ' || rec1.last);
END;
/

Result:

Employee #100 = King

FETCH Statement for Assigning Row to Record Variable

The syntax of a simple FETCH statement is:

FETCH cursor INTO record_variable_name;

A cursor is associated with a query. For every column that the query selects, the record variable must have a corresponding, type-compatible field. The cursor must be either an explicit cursor or a strong cursor variable.

See Also:

"FETCH Statement" for complete syntax
"Cursors" for information about all cursors
"Explicit Cursors" for information about explicit cursors
"Cursor Variables" for information about cursor variables

In Example 5-48, each variable of RECORD type EmpRecTyp represents a partial row of the employees table—the columns employee_id and salary. Both the cursor and the function return a value of type EmpRecTyp. In the function, a FETCH statement assigns the values of the columns employee_id and salary to the corresponding fields of a local variable of type EmpRecTyp.

Example 5-48 FETCH Assigns Values to Record that Function Returns

DECLARE
  TYPE EmpRecTyp IS RECORD (
    emp_id  employees.employee_id%TYPE,
    salary  employees.salary%TYPE
  );
 
  CURSOR desc_salary RETURN EmpRecTyp IS
    SELECT employee_id, salary
    FROM employees
    ORDER BY salary DESC;
 
  highest_paid_emp       EmpRecTyp;
  next_highest_paid_emp  EmpRecTyp;
 
  FUNCTION nth_highest_salary (n INTEGER) RETURN EmpRecTyp IS
    emp_rec  EmpRecTyp;
  BEGIN
    OPEN desc_salary;
    FOR i IN 1..n LOOP
      FETCH desc_salary INTO emp_rec;
    END LOOP;
    CLOSE desc_salary;
    RETURN emp_rec;
  END nth_highest_salary;
 
BEGIN
  highest_paid_emp := nth_highest_salary(1);
  next_highest_paid_emp := nth_highest_salary(2);
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(
    'Highest Paid: #' ||
    highest_paid_emp.emp_id || ', $' ||
    highest_paid_emp.salary 
  );
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(
    'Next Highest Paid: #' ||
    next_highest_paid_emp.emp_id || ', $' ||
    next_highest_paid_emp.salary
  );
END;
/

Result:

Highest Paid: #100, $26460
Next Highest Paid: #101, $18742.5

SQL Statements that Return Rows in PL/SQL Record Variables

The SQL statements INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE have an optional RETURNING INTO clause that can return the affected row in a PL/SQL record variable. For information about this clause, see "RETURNING INTO Clause".

In Example 5-49, the UPDATE statement updates the salary of an employee and returns the name and new salary of the employee in a record variable.

Example 5-49 UPDATE Statement Assigns Values to Record Variable

DECLARE
  TYPE EmpRec IS RECORD (
    last_name  employees.last_name%TYPE,
    salary     employees.salary%TYPE
  );
  emp_info    EmpRec;
  old_salary  employees.salary%TYPE;
BEGIN
  SELECT salary INTO old_salary
   FROM employees
   WHERE employee_id = 100;
 
  UPDATE employees
    SET salary = salary * 1.1
    WHERE employee_id = 100
    RETURNING last_name, salary INTO emp_info;
 
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
    'Salary of ' || emp_info.last_name || ' raised from ' ||
    old_salary || ' to ' || emp_info.salary
  );
END;
/

Result:

Salary of King raised from 26460 to 29106

Assigning NULL to Record Variable

Assigning the value NULL to a record variable assigns the value NULL to each of its fields. This assignment is recursive; that is, if a field is a record, then its fields are also assigned the value NULL.

Example 5-50 prints the fields of a record variable (one of which is a record) before and after assigning NULL to it.

Example 5-50 Assigning NULL to Record Variable

DECLARE
  TYPE age_rec IS RECORD (
    years  INTEGER DEFAULT 35,
    months INTEGER DEFAULT 6
  );
 
  TYPE name_rec IS RECORD (
    first  employees.first_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'John',
    last   employees.last_name%TYPE DEFAULT 'Doe',
    age    age_rec
  );
 
  name name_rec;
 
  PROCEDURE print_name AS
  BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT(NVL(name.first, 'NULL') || ' '); 
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT(NVL(name.last,  'NULL') || ', ');
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT(NVL(TO_CHAR(name.age.years), 'NULL') || ' yrs ');
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(NVL(TO_CHAR(name.age.months), 'NULL') || ' mos');
  END;
 
BEGIN
  print_name;
  name := NULL;
  print_name;
END;
/

Result:

John Doe, 35 yrs 6 mos
NULL NULL, NULL yrs NULL mos

Record Comparisons

Records cannot be tested natively for nullity, equality, or inequality. These BOOLEAN expressions are illegal:

My_Record IS NULL
My_Record_1 = My_Record_2
My_Record_1 > My_Record_2

You must write your own functions to implement such tests. For information about writing functions, see Chapter 8, "PL/SQL Subprograms."

Inserting Records into Tables

The PL/SQL extension to the SQL INSERT statement lets you insert a record into a table. The record must represent a row of the table. For more information, see "INSERT Statement Extension". For restrictions on inserting records into tables, see "Restrictions on Record Inserts and Updates".

Example 5-51 creates the table schedule and initializes it by putting default values in a record and inserting the record into the table for each week. (The COLUMN formatting commands are from SQL*Plus.)

Example 5-51 Initializing Table by Inserting Record of Default Values

DROP TABLE schedule;
CREATE TABLE schedule (
  week  NUMBER,
  Mon   VARCHAR2(10),
  Tue   VARCHAR2(10),
  Wed   VARCHAR2(10),
  Thu   VARCHAR2(10),
  Fri   VARCHAR2(10),
  Sat   VARCHAR2(10),
  Sun   VARCHAR2(10)
);
 
DECLARE
  default_week  schedule%ROWTYPE;
  i             NUMBER;
BEGIN
  default_week.Mon := '0800-1700';
  default_week.Tue := '0800-1700';
  default_week.Wed := '0800-1700';
  default_week.Thu := '0800-1700';
  default_week.Fri := '0800-1700';
  default_week.Sat := 'Day Off';
  default_week.Sun := 'Day Off';
 
  FOR i IN 1..6 LOOP
    default_week.week    := i;
    
    INSERT INTO schedule VALUES default_week;
  END LOOP;
END;
/
 
COLUMN week FORMAT 99
COLUMN Mon  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Tue  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Wed  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Thu  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Fri  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Sat  FORMAT A9
COLUMN Sun  FORMAT A9
 
SELECT * FROM schedule;

Result:

WEEK MON       TUE       WED       THU       FRI       SAT       SUN
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
   1 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   2 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   3 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   4 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   5 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   6 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off

To efficiently insert a collection of records into a table, put the INSERT statement inside a FORALL statement. For information about the FORALL statement, see "FORALL Statement".

Updating Rows with Records

The PL/SQL extension to the SQL UPDATE statement lets you update one or more table rows with a record. The record must represent a row of the table. For more information, see "UPDATE Statement Extensions". For restrictions on updating table rows with a record, see "Restrictions on Record Inserts and Updates".

Example 5-52 updates the first three weeks of the table schedule (defined in Example 5-51) by putting the new values in a record and updating the first three rows of the table with that record.

Example 5-52 Updating Rows with Record

DECLARE
  default_week  schedule%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
  default_week.Mon := 'Day Off';
  default_week.Tue := '0900-1800';
  default_week.Wed := '0900-1800';
  default_week.Thu := '0900-1800';
  default_week.Fri := '0900-1800';
  default_week.Sat := '0900-1800';
  default_week.Sun := 'Day Off';
 
  FOR i IN 1..3 LOOP
    default_week.week    := i;
  
    UPDATE schedule
    SET ROW = default_week
    WHERE week = i;
  END LOOP;
END;
/
 
SELECT * FROM schedule;

Result:

WEEK MON       TUE       WED       THU       FRI       SAT       SUN
---- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
   1 Day Off   0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 Day Off
   2 Day Off   0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 Day Off
   3 Day Off   0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 0900-1800 Day Off
   4 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   5 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off
   6 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 0800-1700 Day Off   Day Off

To efficiently update a set of rows with a collection of records, put the UPDATE statement inside a FORALL statement. For information about the FORALL statement, see "FORALL Statement".

Restrictions on Record Inserts and Updates

These restrictions apply to record inserts and updates:

Record variables are allowed only in these places:
- On the right side of the SET clause in an UPDATE statement
- In the VALUES clause of an INSERT statement
- In the INTO subclause of a RETURNING clause
Record variables are not allowed in a SELECT list, WHERE clause, GROUP BY clause, or ORDER BY clause.
The keyword ROW is allowed only on the left side of a SET clause. Also, you cannot use ROW with a subquery.
In an UPDATE statement, only one SET clause is allowed if ROW is used.
If the VALUES clause of an INSERT statement contains a record variable, no other variable or value is allowed in the clause.
If the INTO subclause of a RETURNING clause contains a record variable, no other variable or value is allowed in the subclause.
These are not supported:
- Nested RECORD types
- Functions that return a RECORD type
- Record inserts and updates using the EXECUTE IMMEDIATE statement.