PL/SQL is an imperative 3GL that was designed specifically for the seamless processing of SQL commands. It provides specific syntax for this purpose and supports exactly the same datatypes as SQL. Server-side PL/SQL is stored and compiled in Oracle Database and runs within the Oracle executable. It automatically inherits the robustness, security, and portability of Oracle Database.

Many customers allow client code to access Oracle Database only by calling PL/SQL subprograms. This approach not only reflects generic modular programming best practices (define a clean, functional API and hide the implementation); also, it typically drastically reduces network round trips between the client and Oracle Database.

PL/SQL is mission-critical not only for our Fortune 500 customers, but also for Oracle's E-Business Suite, which has over 20 million lines of PL/SQL code.

Server-side PL/SQL is fully available in all editions of Oracle Database; it needs no explicit installation or licensing.

Technical Information
	PL/SQL Enhancements in Oracle Database 11g
	The utlirplscope.sql script for 11.1.0.6
	Conditional Compilation in Oracle Database 10g Release 2 (10.2) (PDF)
	New PL/SQL Features in Oracle Database 10g Release 1 (10.1.0)
	FAQ: PL/SQL Native Compilation (NCOMP) in Oracle Database 10g Release

Articles and Columns Technical advice based on the real-world experiences of PL/SQL users
	Best Practice PL/SQL: Q&A with Steven Feuerstein and Bryn Llewellyn
	Picking Your Packages: Key Benefits and Underlying Behaviors
	Tracing Lines: Exception Handling in Oracle Database 10g
	Writing Better SQL Using Regular Expressions
	More PL/SQL Technical Articles...

PL/SQL Books
	Mastering Oracle PL/SQL: Practical Solutions by Connor McDonald (Sample Chapter PDF)
	Oracle Database 10g PL/SQL Programming by Scott Urman, Ron Hardman, Michael McLaughlin (Sample Chapter PDF)
	Oracle Database 10g PL/SQL 101 by Christopher Allen (Sample Chapter PDF)
	Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Fourth Edition by Steven Feuerstein
	Mastering Oracle PL/SQL: Practical Solutions by Connor McDonald (Sample Chapter PDF)
	Oracle PL/SQL by Example, Third Edition by Benjamin Rosenzweig, Elena Silvestrova
	Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference, 3rd Edition by Steven Feuerstein, Bill Pribyl, Chip Dawes