PL/SQL

Subprograms
(Procedures & Functions)
What is a Subprogram?
● Subprograms are named PL/SQL blocks that can take
parameters and be invoked.
● These can be stored in the database and run when
appropriate
● Like unnamed or anonymous PL/SQL blocks,
subprograms have a declarative part,
an executable part, and an optional exception-handling
part.
● PL/SQL has two types of subprograms called procedures
and functions.
● Generally Procedures are used to perform an action and a
function to compute a value.
Advantages of Subprograms

● Subprograms provide extensibility; that is, they let you tailor

the PL/SQL language to suit your needs.

● Subprograms provide modularity; that is, they let you break

a program down into manageable, well-defined modules.

● Subprograms promote reusability and maintainability.

● Subprograms aid abstraction,

 Procedures

CREATE [OR REPLACE] PROCEDURE proc_name

[(argument1[IN\OUT\INOUT]type),
(argument2[IN\OUT\INOUT]type),…..] IS\AS
[local declarations]
BEGIN
executable statements
[EXCEPTION
exception handlers]
END [proc_name];
 Example of a Procedure
CREATE OR PROCEDURE debit_account (acct_id IN NUMBER,
amount IN NUMBER) IS
old_balance NUMBER;
new_balance NUMBER;
overdrawn EXCEPTION;
BEGIN
SELECT bal INTO old_balance FROM accts WHERE
acct_no = acct_id;
new_balance := old_balance - amount;
IF new_balance < 0 THEN
RAISE overdrawn;
ELSE
UPDATE accts SET bal = new_balance WHERE
acct_no = acct_id;
END IF;
EXCEPTION
WHEN overdrawn THEN
Dbms_output.Put_line(‘The account doesn’t have
sufficient balance’);
Example of a procedure
DECLARE
account_num NUMBER(3):=100;
amt NUMBER(7,2):= 5000.00;
BEGIN
debit_account (account_number , amt)
END;
Actual Versus Formal Parameters

● Subprograms pass information using parameters.

● The variables or expressions referenced in the

parameter list of a subprogram call are actual
parameters. (Account_num,amt)

● The variables declared in a subprogram spec and

referenced in the subprogram body are formal
parameters. (acct_id ,amount)
Positional Versus Named Notation

● Indicates the association between an actual and formal

parameter by position or name.

DECLARE
Acct_id NUMBER;
amount NUMBER;
PROCEDURE debit_account (acct_id NUMBER, amount
NUMBER) IS ...

BEGIN
debit_account(account_num, amt);
-- positional notation
debit_account(amt => amount, account_num => acct);
-- named notation
Parameter Modes
 Functions
CREATE [OR REPLACE] FUNCTION fun_name
[(argument1[IN\OUT\INOUT]type),
(argument2[IN\OUT\INOUT]type),…..]
RETURN return_datatype IS\AS
[local declarations]
BEGIN
executable statements
[EXCEPTION
exception handlers]
END [fun_name];
Function Example
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION balance
(acct_id INTEGER) RETURN REAL IS
acct_bal REAL;
BEGIN
SELECT bal INTO acct_bal FROM accts
WHERE acct_no = acct_id;
RETURN acct_bal;
END balance;
Thank You