PL/SQL: Functions Cheat Sheet

Creating a Function

CREATE [OR REPLACE] FUNCTION function_name 
[(parameter_name [IN | OUT | IN OUT] type [, ...])] 
RETURN return_datatype 
{IS | AS} 
BEGIN 
   < function_body > 
END [function_name];

Where,

• function-name specifies the name of the function.
• [OR REPLACE] the option allows the modification of an existing function.
• The optional parameter list contains the name, model, and types of the parameters. IN represents the value that will be passed from outside and OUT represents the parameter that will be used to return a value outside of the procedure.
• The function must contain a return statement.
• The RETURN clause specifies the data type you are going to return from the function.
• function-body contains the executable part.
• The AS keyword is used instead of the IS keyword for creating a standalone function.

Drop Function

DROP FUNCTION function_name;