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as an instance. Many technicians use this term synonymously with database. There is nothing wrong with that since, even though they are technically different pieces, they cannot survive without each other.
Relationships between objects in the database are defined in the data dictionary—hence the familiar term relational database. It is these relationships that provide the power and allow Oracle Database 10g to store vast amounts of data. Storing that data is one thing—retrieving it for applications in a quick and complete fashion is another story. Data retrieval is one of the strengths of the Oracle Database 10g engine.
Over the next eight chapters, we will be delving into more details of the Oracle Database 10g offering, paying specific attention to the following:
SQL—Structured Query Language This is the way we communicate with the Oracle Database 10g. Whatever the programming language (from COBOL to Java), SQL is all the database engine understands.
The Database Administrator The person who is the gatekeeper of the Oracle Database 10g and the one responsible for its smooth operation and optimal performance.
Networking The glue that holds many systems together and allows computers to communicate with one another in widely diverse and separated locations.
Backup and Recovery Two areas intimate to the smooth operation of the Oracle Database 10g. Oracle Database 10g's Recovery Manager (referred to as RMAN) is the fundamental building block in its disaster recovery implementation.
PL/SQL A programming language native to the Oracle Database 10g engine, providing more procedural capabilities that amplify and enhance the functionality of SQL.
Java An increasingly popular development environment which, according to the likes of Sun Microsystems, powers the Internet. Many of the ''sexy" features you enjoy on the Internet are courtesy of this.
XML Extensible Markup Language (XML) which offers a flexible way to format text. The Oracle Database 10g stores XML objects in their native format. XML has become an industry standard; very popular when exchanging information on the Internet and other electronic information exchange media.
Large Database Features Oracle Database 10g expands on an already solid offering in this area. With Oracle9i, they boasted the ability to support a database of up to 500 petabytes. Oracle Database 10g expands that upper limit to many exabytes, a staggering number, to say the least—where an exabyte is 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes—or about one trillion million!
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