What Is an Oracle Database?
An Oracle database is a fully configurable and scalable enterprise database solution that uses a relational model for information management.
What Is an Oracle Database?
Oracle Database Definition
Founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison and other developers, Oracle Database is one of the most popular commercial enterprise database solutions that stores data in interlinked tables and columns. Also known as Oracle relational database management system (RDBMS), Oracle is a fully configurable and scalable solution that stores data as objects while maintaining relationships between them.
The current stable version of the Oracle database is 19c, where c denotes cloud compatibility. It’s the first converged, multi-model database solution of Oracle that supports multiple data types and workloads with real-time data analytics capabilities. This eliminates the hassle of maintaining separate databases to store different forms of data, such as multimedia content, text, and geospatial information. As a unified data hub, Oracle also simplifies data governance, management, and access. Users can retrieve data from an Oracle relational database through structured query language (SQL). Oracle RDBMS is also compatible with most operating systems, including Windows and macOS, and has five different editions: Enterprise, Personal, Standard, Express, and Lite.
Differences between Oracle database and SQL database
Oracle database and SQL database are two popular commercial enterprise database solutions. Choosing between Oracle database vs. SQL is often challenging for businesses. Outlined below are some of the key differences between these two database management systems.
Platform support: Oracle runs smoothly across most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and OS-X. In contrast, SQL is a Microsoft database solution, so is only compatible with Windows. However, from 2017 onwards, it also supports the Linux OS.
Query language: PL/SQL is used to manipulate the data in Oracle, whereas SQL users perform database CRUD operations using transact SQL.
Complexity: The query language Oracle database (PL/SQL) varies significantly from SQL. This makes the syntax of Oracle complex compared to SQL.
Packages support: Oracle DB offers support for packages to enhance the overall database functionality. Users can also create their own packages in it, unlike SQL database.
Job scheduling and query optimization: Oracle Scheduler handles the job creation and scheduling in Oracle database. It leverages the star optimization technique to improve the query execution time. SQL Server, in contrast, uses the SQL Server Agent for job scheduling but doesn’t support query optimization.
Transaction control and error handling: This is typically considered better in Oracle compared to SQL database. Any change in database values happens in the computer memory initially and requires an external COMMIT statement from the user for permanent alteration in the Oracle database. Every new connection is treated as an individual transaction in this database for quick error resolution. SQL Server, in contrast, executes every operation within a particular transaction sequentially, making error control difficult. Users cannot roll back a transaction in SQL Server.
What is Oracle database used for?
Oracle relational database has applications in areas like data warehousing and enterprise grid computing. It allows businesses to catalog and retrieve multiple types of data securely. Oracle database software is typically installed on a server to handle the information management challenges in a multi-user, enterprise environment. Once installed, it enables fine-grained access control by restricting unauthorized access to file directories. Users can also access data concurrently without any performance delay using Oracle database. Further, Oracle database tools offer data backup and recovery capabilities for unexpected failures.
The separation of Oracle database architecture into physical and logical storage makes it useful for grid computing, a cost-effective technique to build and manage applications at scale by rapidly provisioning resources from a large pool of modular storage units and servers. This structure creates a modular data storage system in which capacity can be adjusted as per demand without affecting the database operations. The scalability aspect of Oracle database software also makes it highly effective in enterprises where multiple databases often need to be configured and accessed quickly with minimum downtime. Other areas where you can use the Oracle database includes:
Automatic storage management (ASM): As a self-managing database, Oracle automates a majority of database administration tasks, including storage management. It automatically distributes the data across available physical disks to simplify file management and improve system performance. Oracle ASM can also redistribute file content after changes in the database storage configuration. Additionally, it eliminates the need for conventional data management tools, such as filing systems, raw disks, and volume management software.
Clustering: Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) allow businesses to host a single database on multiple clustered nodes or servers to ensure high availability and avoid a single point of failure. In the clustered setup, if one server abruptly fails, the database proceeds to run on the remaining instances to reduce the impact of service disruptions.
Memory caching: Oracle relational database offers flexible caching options for faster read/write operations. For instance, certain pieces of data in an organization should be instantly accessible, such as customer data and recent orders. With Oracle In-Memory Database Cache (IMDB), businesses can cache this information in the application tier for real-time access, fast response time, and high transaction throughput.
Oracle database features
Outlined below are some of the noteworthy features of Oracle database software.
Portability: Oracle database software is highly portable as it runs across multiple operating systems and supports various applications, from transaction processing to analytics and business intelligence. Its networking stack allows applications from a different platform to connect with it seamlessly. For instance, applications running on Linux OS can connect to an Oracle database installed on Windows quickly.
Scalability and performance: With features like In-Memory Database Cache (IMDB), real application clusters (RAC), and advanced data compression, Oracle database software offers high performance and low latency in real-time environments. It also maintains data concurrency and consistency in the multi-user environment using a multi-version consistency model and different locking mechanisms.
High availability: Oracle database software has built-in capabilities and tools designed to help IT teams maximize the availability of their critical customer databases. Examples include Oracle RAC, Data Guard, Oracle Multitenant, and Oracle Sharding. Businesses can use these tools in different combinations to optimize data availability in high-performance computing environments.
Security: Organizations can demonstrate compliance and reduce the risk of data breaches by using Oracle database security tools and technologies, such as Database Vault, Label Security, and Data Safe. IT staff can enable data masking, activity monitoring, and privileged access control to protect the Oracle relational database from potential threats.
Backup and recovery: Oracle database has impeccable data backup and recovery capabilities, allowing IT teams to restore critical information quickly after a failure. For instance, it offers a powerful solution, Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance, that takes automated incremental backups to minimize the backup period and ensure a faster, cost-effective recovery.
What Is an Oracle Database?
Oracle Database Definition
Founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison and other developers, Oracle Database is one of the most popular commercial enterprise database solutions that stores data in interlinked tables and columns. Also known as Oracle relational database management system (RDBMS), Oracle is a fully configurable and scalable solution that stores data as objects while maintaining relationships between them.
The current stable version of the Oracle database is 19c, where c denotes cloud compatibility. It’s the first converged, multi-model database solution of Oracle that supports multiple data types and workloads with real-time data analytics capabilities. This eliminates the hassle of maintaining separate databases to store different forms of data, such as multimedia content, text, and geospatial information. As a unified data hub, Oracle also simplifies data governance, management, and access. Users can retrieve data from an Oracle relational database through structured query language (SQL). Oracle RDBMS is also compatible with most operating systems, including Windows and macOS, and has five different editions: Enterprise, Personal, Standard, Express, and Lite.
Differences between Oracle database and SQL database
Oracle database and SQL database are two popular commercial enterprise database solutions. Choosing between Oracle database vs. SQL is often challenging for businesses. Outlined below are some of the key differences between these two database management systems.
Platform support: Oracle runs smoothly across most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and OS-X. In contrast, SQL is a Microsoft database solution, so is only compatible with Windows. However, from 2017 onwards, it also supports the Linux OS.
Query language: PL/SQL is used to manipulate the data in Oracle, whereas SQL users perform database CRUD operations using transact SQL.
Complexity: The query language Oracle database (PL/SQL) varies significantly from SQL. This makes the syntax of Oracle complex compared to SQL.
Packages support: Oracle DB offers support for packages to enhance the overall database functionality. Users can also create their own packages in it, unlike SQL database.
Job scheduling and query optimization: Oracle Scheduler handles the job creation and scheduling in Oracle database. It leverages the star optimization technique to improve the query execution time. SQL Server, in contrast, uses the SQL Server Agent for job scheduling but doesn’t support query optimization.
Transaction control and error handling: This is typically considered better in Oracle compared to SQL database. Any change in database values happens in the computer memory initially and requires an external COMMIT statement from the user for permanent alteration in the Oracle database. Every new connection is treated as an individual transaction in this database for quick error resolution. SQL Server, in contrast, executes every operation within a particular transaction sequentially, making error control difficult. Users cannot roll back a transaction in SQL Server.
What is Oracle database used for?
Oracle relational database has applications in areas like data warehousing and enterprise grid computing. It allows businesses to catalog and retrieve multiple types of data securely. Oracle database software is typically installed on a server to handle the information management challenges in a multi-user, enterprise environment. Once installed, it enables fine-grained access control by restricting unauthorized access to file directories. Users can also access data concurrently without any performance delay using Oracle database. Further, Oracle database tools offer data backup and recovery capabilities for unexpected failures.
The separation of Oracle database architecture into physical and logical storage makes it useful for grid computing, a cost-effective technique to build and manage applications at scale by rapidly provisioning resources from a large pool of modular storage units and servers. This structure creates a modular data storage system in which capacity can be adjusted as per demand without affecting the database operations. The scalability aspect of Oracle database software also makes it highly effective in enterprises where multiple databases often need to be configured and accessed quickly with minimum downtime. Other areas where you can use the Oracle database includes:
Automatic storage management (ASM): As a self-managing database, Oracle automates a majority of database administration tasks, including storage management. It automatically distributes the data across available physical disks to simplify file management and improve system performance. Oracle ASM can also redistribute file content after changes in the database storage configuration. Additionally, it eliminates the need for conventional data management tools, such as filing systems, raw disks, and volume management software.
Clustering: Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) allow businesses to host a single database on multiple clustered nodes or servers to ensure high availability and avoid a single point of failure. In the clustered setup, if one server abruptly fails, the database proceeds to run on the remaining instances to reduce the impact of service disruptions.
Memory caching: Oracle relational database offers flexible caching options for faster read/write operations. For instance, certain pieces of data in an organization should be instantly accessible, such as customer data and recent orders. With Oracle In-Memory Database Cache (IMDB), businesses can cache this information in the application tier for real-time access, fast response time, and high transaction throughput.
Oracle database features
Outlined below are some of the noteworthy features of Oracle database software.
Portability: Oracle database software is highly portable as it runs across multiple operating systems and supports various applications, from transaction processing to analytics and business intelligence. Its networking stack allows applications from a different platform to connect with it seamlessly. For instance, applications running on Linux OS can connect to an Oracle database installed on Windows quickly.
Scalability and performance: With features like In-Memory Database Cache (IMDB), real application clusters (RAC), and advanced data compression, Oracle database software offers high performance and low latency in real-time environments. It also maintains data concurrency and consistency in the multi-user environment using a multi-version consistency model and different locking mechanisms.
High availability: Oracle database software has built-in capabilities and tools designed to help IT teams maximize the availability of their critical customer databases. Examples include Oracle RAC, Data Guard, Oracle Multitenant, and Oracle Sharding. Businesses can use these tools in different combinations to optimize data availability in high-performance computing environments.
Security: Organizations can demonstrate compliance and reduce the risk of data breaches by using Oracle database security tools and technologies, such as Database Vault, Label Security, and Data Safe. IT staff can enable data masking, activity monitoring, and privileged access control to protect the Oracle relational database from potential threats.
Backup and recovery: Oracle database has impeccable data backup and recovery capabilities, allowing IT teams to restore critical information quickly after a failure. For instance, it offers a powerful solution, Zero Data Loss Recovery Appliance, that takes automated incremental backups to minimize the backup period and ensure a faster, cost-effective recovery.
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