Scope and visibility- pl/sql, PL-SQL Programming

Assignment Help:

Scope and Visibility

The References to an identifier are resolved according to its visibility and scope. The scope of an identifier is that area of a program unit (subprogram, block, or package) from which you can reference the identifier. An identifier is visible only in the areas from which you can reference the identifier using an unqualified name. The Figure shows the visibility and scope of a variable named x that is declared in an enclosing block, and then re-declared in a sub-block.

The Identifiers declared in a PL/SQL block are considered local to that block and global to all its sub-blocks. If a global identifier is re-declared in a sub-block, both the identifiers remain in the scope. Within the sub-block, though, only the local identifier is visible as you must use a qualified name to reference the global identifier.

Though you cannot declare an identifier twice in the similar block, you can declare the same identifier in two various blocks. The two items represented by the identifier are discrete, and any change in one does not affect the other. Though, a block cannot reference the identifiers declared in other blocks at the similar level as these identifiers are neither global nor local to the block.

 

2006_Scope and Visibility.jpg

 

                                          Figure: Scope and Visibility




The example below describes the scope rules. Note that the identifiers declared in one sub-block cannot be referenced in another sub-block. That is because the block cannot reference the identifiers declared in another blocks nested at similar level.


DECLARE
a CHAR;
b REAL;
BEGIN

-- identifiers available here: a (CHAR), b
DECLARE
a INTEGER;
c REAL;
BEGIN
-- identifiers available here: a (INTEGER), b, c
END;
DECLARE
d REAL;
BEGIN
-- identifiers available here: a (CHAR), b, d
END;
-- identifiers available here: a (CHAR), b
END;


Remember that the global identifiers can be re-declared in a sub-block, in that case the local declaration prevails and the sub-block cannot reference the global identifier unless you use a qualified name. The qualifier can be the label of an enclose block, as the example below shows:


<>
DECLARE
birthdate DATE;
BEGIN
DECLARE
birthdate DATE;
BEGIN
...
IF birthdate = outer.birthdate THEN...


As the next illustration shown below, the qualifier can also be the name of an enclosing subprogram:


PROCEDURE check_credit (...) IS
rating NUMBER;
FUNCTION valid (...) RETURN BOOLEAN IS
rating NUMBER;
BEGIN
...
IF check_credit.rating < 3 THEN...


Though, within the same scope, a label and a subprogram cannot have the similar name.


Related Discussions:- Scope and visibility- pl/sql

Theory of eternity of life - origin of life, THEO R Y OF ETERNITY OF LIFE...

THEO R Y OF ETERNITY OF LIFE (PRAYER - 1880) - The theory of eternity of life, also called the steady-state theory , states that life has ever been in existence as at presen

Scoping-naming conventions, Scoping Within the similar scope, all the de...

Scoping Within the similar scope, all the declared identifiers should be unique. So, even if their datatypes differ, the variables and parameters cannot share the similar name.

Parameter and keyword description - open-for statement, Parameter and Keywo...

Parameter and Keyword Description: cursor_variable_name: This identifies a cursor variable or the parameter formerly declared within the present scope. host_cursor_va

Package body in pl/sql, Package Body: The package specification is imp...

Package Body: The package specification is implemented by the package body. That is, the package body has the definition of every cursor and the subprogram declared in the pac

Using invoker rights in pl sql, Using Invoker Rights: By default, the ...

Using Invoker Rights: By default, the stored procedure executes with the privileges of its definer, not its invoker. These procedures are bound to the schema in which they inh

Anatomy of a table, Anatomy of a Table: Figure shows the terminology u...

Anatomy of a Table: Figure shows the terminology used in SQL to refer to parts of the structure of a table. As you can see, SQL has no official terms for its counterpa

Difference between ttitle and btitle, TTITLE and BTITLE are commands in Pl-...

TTITLE and BTITLE are commands in Pl-SQL to control report headings and footers. This Ttitle & Btitle are mainly used on creating SQL*PLUS report. Ttitle is used for toptitle headi

Left and right joins, Left and Right Joins LEFT OUTER JOIN can be used...

Left and Right Joins LEFT OUTER JOIN can be used when you want to retrieve the data from the main table (table1) even if there is no match in other tables (table_2, table_3...

Bulk binds advantages, Bulk Binds advantages In the Embedded Oracle RDB...

Bulk Binds advantages In the Embedded Oracle RDBMS, the PL/SQL engines accept any valid PL/SQL subprogram or block. As the figure shows, the PL/SQL engine executes all procedur

Semijoin and composition - sql, Semijoin and Composition - SQL For sem...

Semijoin and Composition - SQL For semijoin, the dyadic relational operator MATCHING, defined thus: r1 MATCHING r2, where r1 and r2 are relations such that r1 JOIN r2 is de

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd