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PLSQL Functions

A function in PL/SQL is a named block that must return a value, differing from a procedure which may not. The document provides syntax for creating functions, examples of executing them, and demonstrates a recursive function for calculating factorials and a function for finding the maximum of two numbers. It includes code snippets and expected output for clarity.

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2 views

PLSQL Functions

A function in PL/SQL is a named block that must return a value, differing from a procedure which may not. The document provides syntax for creating functions, examples of executing them, and demonstrates a recursive function for calculating factorials and a function for finding the maximum of two numbers. It includes code snippets and expected output for clarity.

Uploaded by

classgattapugari
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PL/SQL Functions

What is a Function in PL/SQL?


A function is a named PL/SQL Block which is similar to a procedure. The major difference
between a procedure and a function is, a function must always return a value, but a procedure
may or may not return a value.

General Syntax to create a function is


CREATE [OR REPLACE] FUNCTION function_name [parameters]
RETURN return_datatype;
IS
Declaration_section
BEGIN
Execution_section
Return return_variable;
EXCEPTION
exception section
Return return_variable;
END;

For example, let’s create a function called ''employer_details_func' similar to the one created in
stored proc

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION employer_details_func


RETURN VARCHAR(20);
IS
emp_name VARCHAR(20);
BEGIN
SELECT first_name INTO emp_name
FROM emp_tbl WHERE empID = '100';
RETURN emp_name;
END;
/

How to execute a PL/SQL Function?


A function can be executed in the following ways.

1) Since a function returns a value we can assign it to a variable.

employee_name := employer_details_func;
If ‘employee_name’ is of datatype varchar we can store the name of the employee by assigning
the return type of the function to it.

2) As a part of a SELECT statement

SELECT employer_details_func FROM dual;


3) In a PL/SQL Statements like,

dbms_output.put_line(employer_details_func);
This line displays the value returned by the function.

The following program calculates the factorial of a given number by calling itself recursively −

DECLARE
num number;
factorial number;

FUNCTION fact(x number)


RETURN number
IS
f number;
BEGIN
IF x=0 THEN
f := 1;
ELSE
f := x * fact(x-1);
END IF;
RETURN f;
END;

BEGIN
num:= 6;
factorial := fact(num);
dbms_output.put_line(' Factorial '|| num || ' is ' || factorial);
END;
/
When the above code is executed at the SQL prompt, it produces the following result −

Factorial 6 is 720
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Example
The following example demonstrates Declaring, Defining, and Invoking a Simple PL/SQL Function
that computes and returns the maximum of two values.

DECLARE
a number;
b number;
c number;
FUNCTION findMax(x IN number, y IN number)
RETURN number
IS
z number;
BEGIN
IF x > y THEN
z:= x;
ELSE
Z:= y;
END IF;
RETURN z;
END;
BEGIN
a:= 21;
b:= 40;
c := findMax(a, b);
dbms_output.put_line(' Maximum of (21,40): ' || c);
END;
/
When the above code is executed at the SQL prompt, it produces the following result −

Maximum of (21,40): 40

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

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