Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs

Parameters

Procedures and functions can both use parameters to pass information back and forth between the module and the calling PL/SQL block.

The parameters of a module are at least as important as the code that implements the module (the module’s body). Sure, you have to make certain that your module fulfills its promise. But the whole point of creating a module is that it can be called, ideally by more than one other module. If the parameter list is confusing or badly designed, it will be very difficult for other programmers to make use of the module, and the result is that few will bother. And it doesn’t matter how well you have implemented a program if no one uses it.

PL/SQL offers many different features to help you design parameters effectively. This section covers all elements of parameter definition.

Defining parameters

Formal parameters are defined in the parameter list of the program. A parameter definition parallels closely the syntax for declaring variables in the declaration section of a PL/SQL block. There are two important distinctions: first, a parameter has a passing mode while a variable declaration does not; and second, a parameter declaration must be unconstrained.

A constrained declaration is one that constrains or limits the kind of value that can be assigned to a variable declared with that datatype. An unconstrained declaration is one that does not limit values in this way. The following declaration of the variable company_name constrains the variable to ...