PL/SQL is a block structured language that enables developers to combine the power of SQL with procedural statements.All the statements of a block are passed to oracle engine all at once which increases processing speed and decreases the traffic.
Disadvantages of SQL:
- SQL doesn’t provide the programmers with a technique of condition checking, looping and branching.
- SQL statements are passed to Oracle engine one at a time which increases traffic and decreases speed.
- SQL has no facility of error checking during manipulation of data.
Features of PL/SQL:
- PL/SQL is basically a procedural language, which provides the functionality of decision making, iteration and many more features of procedural programming languages.
- PL/SQL can execute a number of queries in one block using single command.
- One can create a PL/SQL unit such as procedures, functions, packages, triggers, and types, which are stored in the database for reuse by applications.
- PL/SQL provides a feature to handle the exception which occurs in PL/SQL block known as exception handling block.
- Applications written in PL/SQL are portable to computer hardware or operating system where Oracle is operational.
- PL/SQL Offers extensive error checking.
Differences between SQL and PL/SQL:
| SQL | PL/SQL |
| SQL is a single query that is used to perform DML and DDL operations. | PL/SQL is a block of codes that used to write the entire program blocks/ procedure/ function, etc. |
| It is declarative, that defines what needs to be done, rather than how things need to be done. | PL/SQL is procedural that defines how the things needs to be done. |
| Execute as a single statement. | Execute as a whole block. |
| Mainly used to manipulate data. | Mainly used to create an application. |
| Cannot contain PL/SQL code in it. | It is an extension of SQL, so it can contain SQL inside it. |
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