PL/SQL Versions

PL/SQL Versions

Version/Release	Characteristics
Version 1.0	First available in SQL*Plus as a batch-processing script. Oracle Version 6.0 was released at approximately the same time. PL/SQL was then implemented within SQL*Forms Version 3, the predecessor of Oracle Forms.
Release 1.1	Available only in the Oracle Developer/2000 Release 1 tools. This upgrade supports client-side packages and allows client-side programs to execute stored code transparently.
Version 2.0	Available with Release 7.0 (Oracle Server). Major upgrade to Version 1. Adds support for stored procedures, functions, packages, programmer-defined records, PL/SQL tables, and many package extensions, including DBMS_OUTPUT and DBMS_PIPE.
Release 2.1	Available with Release 7.1 of the Oracle Server Version. Supports programmer-defined subtypes, enables the use of stored functions inside SQL statements, and offers dynamic SQL with the DBMS_SQL package. With Version 2.1, you can now execute SQL DDL statements from within PL/SQL programs.
Release 2.2	Available with Release 7.2 of the Oracle Server Version. Implements a binary "wrapper" for PL/SQL programs to protect source code, supports cursor variables for embedded PL/SQL environments such as Pro*C, and makes available database-driven job scheduling with the DBMS_JOB package.
Release 2.3	Available with Release 7.3 of the Oracle Server Version. Enhances functionality of PL/SQL tables, offers improved remote dependency management, adds file I/O capabilities to PL/SQL, and completes the implementation of cursor variables.
Version 8.0	Available with Oracle8 Release 8.0. The drastic change in version number reflects Oracle's effort to synchronize version numbers across related products. PL/SQL8 is the version of PL/SQL which supports the many enhancements of Oracle8, including large objects (LOBs), object-oriented design and development, collections (VARRAYs and nested tables), and Oracle/AQ (the Oracle/Advanced Queueing facility).