3.2 Objects Prior to Oracle8, the term "object" was used loosely to mean any entry in the data dictionary other than a user . Thus, an object could be a table, synonym, view, index, stored procedure, trigger, and so on. Oracle8 introduced the concepts of both an object-relational database and a user-created object type. Discussion about Oracle8 new features becomes very confusing as soon as relational objects, database objects, and object types are mentioned. In this book, the term "objects" will be used in the generic sense to mean any item created by a user and will include (but not be limited to) tables, synonyms, views, indexes, stored procedures, and triggers, and so on. "Object" references may include Oracle8 "object types" as well. We will try to make the distinction as clear as possible in all cases.  |
