11g New Feature - SIMPLE_INTEGER

Prior to Oracle 11g, we have used PLS_INTEGER data type in PL/SQL programs. In 11g, a new data type SIMPLE_INTEGER has been introduced. It is a sub-type of PLS_INTEGER data type and has the same range as PLS_INTEGER.

The basic difference between the two is that SIMPLE_INTEGER is always NOT NULL. When the value of the declared variable is never going to be null then we can declare it with SIMPLE_INTEGER data type.

Another major difference is that it never gives numeric overflow error like its parent data type instead it wraps around without giving any error. When we don’t have to worry about null checking and overflow errors, SIMPLE_INTEGER data type is the best to use.

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