ORACLE SQL
MOST ASKED SQL and PLSQL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Difference between Primary Key and Unique key
SLNO PRIMARY KEY
1 Primary Key is keyword which determines
column to be unique on a table
2 Primary key will not accept Null Values
3 The primary key tends to generate a
clustered index by default.
4 Primary key support entity Integrity
5 A Table can have only one Primary key
6 Data Present in Primary key can not be
change or modify.
7 It is used to recognize specific records in
the table.
2. Differences between Primary Key and Foreign key
SLNO PRIMARY KEY
1 Primary key is used to Uniquely Identify a
record Uniquely
2 Primary key can not accept Null and
duplicate Values
3 A table can allow only one primary key
4 Primary key is Combination of Not null
and Unique key
5 Table having primary key can referred as
Parent table
6 We cannot modify or change value
present in primary key
3. Differences between Simple view and Complex Views
SLNO SIMPLE VIEW
1 Simple vie contains single base table and
is formed by single table
2 We Cannot use Group function like
max(), Count() etc..,
3 Simple view does not contain group of
data
4 DML Operations could be performed
through simple vies
5 Simple view does not contain group by,
distinct, pseudocolumn like rownum,
columns defined by expressions.
UNIQUE KEY
Unique key is a keyword which supports
uniqueness of a column when a table doesn’t
have primary key
Unique key will accept null values
The unique key tends to generate a non-
clustered index.
Unique will support Uniqueness of data
A Table can have multiple Unique keys
Data Present in Unique key can be change and
modify
It anticipates storing duplicate entries in a
column except for a NULL value.
FOREIGN KEY
Foreign key is used to establish the connection
between two tables
Foreign key can accept null and duplicate value.
A table can have more than one primary key
Foreign key is not a combination
Table having foreign key is referred as Child
table
We can modify or change value present in
foreign key
COMPLEX VIEW
Complex view contains more than one base
table and is created by more than one table
We can use group functions in complex view
Complex view contains group of data
DML operations could not always perform
through complex view
It can contain group by, distinct,
pseudocolumn like rownum, columns
defined by expressions.
ORACLE SQL
4. Differences between Procedures and Functions
SLNO PROCEDURES
1 Procedures are used to perform
certain tasks
2 Procedures are optionally returns
value using out and inout
parameters
3 DML operations can perform in
procedures
4 A procedure cannot call from
Function
5 A Procedure cannot call by SELECT
Statement
6 Procedure can use explicit
transaction handling
5. Difference between Bitmpa and b-tree Index.
SLNO BITMAP INDEX
1 The bitmap Index Includes BITMAP
Keyword
2 Bit map is used for Low Cardinality
columns (With lots of duplicate
values)
6. Differences between cursors and ref cursor.
SLNO CURSORS
1 A Cursor is static
2 A Cursor is defined at compile time
3 A cursor must be used in simple for
loop
4 We can use cursors globally
5 A cursor retrives data more
efficiently
FUNCTIONS
Functions are used to perform calculation
Functions must return Values
DML Operations cannot perform in Functions
(Note: There is a restriction DML operation functions
can not call by select statement
By specifying Autonomous transaction, we can
perform)
A Function can be called from procedure
A Function can call from SELECT Statement
A Function will not use explicit transaction handling
B-TREE INDEX
In B-tree Index Not required to Explicitly specify any
keyword
B-tree Index is used for high cardinality columns
REF CURSOR
Ref Cursor is Dynamic
Ref Cursor is defined at runtime
A Ref cursor can not be used in cursor for loop
we can not use ref cursor out side the procedures
and functions
A ref cursor is not much efficient as regular cursor
ORACLE SQL

7. Differences between Union and Union all

SLNO UNION UNION ALL
1 Union operator holds only Unique Whereas in union all it returns both matched and
records unmatched values

8. Difference between Delete and truncate

SLNO DELETE
1 Delete is DML Statement
2 We can use where clause as a filter
condition in Delete
3 Data can be roll back after Delete
4 After delete transaction need to
commit Explicitly
5 Trigger will fire on delete
6 Delete is slow
7 In Delete entire row will be locked
during transaction
TRUNCATE
Truncate is DDL Statement
we can not use where clause in Truncate
Data can not be roll back after drop
After Truncate data commit automatically
Trigger will not fire on Truncate
Truncate is fast
In Truncate entire table is locked during transaction

9. Differences between Drop and Truncate.

SLNO DROP
1 It is used to eliminate the whole
database from the table.
2 Integrity constraints get removed in
the DROP command.
3 The structure of the table does not
exist.
4 Here the table is free from memory.
5 It is slow as compared to the
TRUNCATE command.
TRUNCATE
It is used to eliminate the tuples from the table.
Integrity constraint doesn’t get removed in the
Truncate command
The structure of the table exists.
Here, the table is not free from memory.
It is fast as compared to the DROP command.

10.Differences between view and materialized views.

SLNO VIEWS
1 Views are virtual. They only display
2 Views does not store any data on
the disk
3 Views will get updated each and
every time we call view
4 Views are used for security purpose
5 It does not have any updation cost
associates with it
MATERIALIZED VIEWS
Materialized views are physical copy of the table
Materialized view will store data
Materialized views need to update manually
Materialized views are used to improve performance
It does have an updation cost associates with it.
ORACLE SQL
11.Differences between Cluster and Not Cluster Index
S.No Clustered
1 A clustered index is used to define the
order or to sort the table or arrange the
data by alphabetical order just like a
dictionary.
2 It is faster than a non-clustered index.
3 It demands less memory to execute the
operation.
4 It permits you to save data sheets in the
leaf nodes of the index.
5 A single table can consist of a sole
cluster index.
6 It has the natural ability to store data on
the disk.
12.Differences between where Clause and Having Clause.
SLNO WHERE CLAUSE
1 Where Clause filters records
2 Where clause executes row by row
3. Where clause will execute before the
execution of Group by Clause
4 We cannot use multirow functions in
where clause
5 Where clause can be used without group
by clause
6 Where clause can be used with
Select,Update,Insert and delete
7 Where clause can be used with single row
functions like UPPER, LOWER etc
Non-clustered
A non-clustered index collects the data at one place
and records at another place.
It is slower than the clustered index.
It demands more memory to execute the
operations.
It never saves data sheets in the leaf nodes of the
index.
It can consist of multiple non-clustered indexes.
It does not have the natural strength to store data on
the disk.
HAVING CLAUSE
Having clause filter groups
Having Clause will execute group by group
Having Clause will execute after the execution
of group by clause
We can use multirow functions in Having
clause
Having clause is used with group by clause
Having clause can only use with Select
statement
Having clause is used with multi row functions
like MAX(), MIN() etc..,