Anonymous blocks v16

You typically write blocks as part of a procedure, function, subprogram, or trigger. You name procedure, function, and trigger programs and store them in the database if you want to reuse them.

For quick, one-time execution such as testing, you can enter the block without providing a name or storing it in the database. A block without a name and that isn't stored in the database is called an anonymous block. Once the block is executed and erased from the application buffer, you can't execute it again unless the block code you enter it into the application again.

Typically, the same block of code executes many times. To run a block of code repeatedly without reentering the code each time, with some simple modifications, you can turn an anonymous block into a procedure or function. See Procedures overview and Functions overview.