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Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition
book

Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition

by Steven Feuerstein, Bill Pribyl
September 2009
Intermediate to advanced
1226 pages
39h 23m
English
O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Content preview from Oracle PL/SQL Programming, 5th Edition

Chapter 5. Iterative Processing with Loops

This chapter explores the iterative control structures of PL/SQL, otherwise known as loops, which let you execute the same code repeatedly. It also describes the CONTINUE statement, introduced for loops in Oracle Database 11g. PL/SQL provides three different kinds of loop constructs:

  • The simple or infinite loop

  • The FOR loop (numeric and cursor)

  • The WHILE loop

Each type of loop is designed for a specific purpose with its own nuances, rules for use, and guidelines for high-quality construction. As I explain each loop, I’ll provide a table describing the following properties of the loop:

Property

Description

How the loop is terminated

A loop executes code repetitively. How do you make the loop stop executing its body?

When the test for termination takes place

Does the test for termination take place at the beginning or end of the loop? What are the consequences?

Reason to use this loop

What are the special factors you should consider to determine if this loop is right for your situation?

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780596805401Errata Page