Oracle PL/SQL - How to create a simple array variable?

Question

I'd like to create an in-memory array variable that can be used in my PL/SQL code. I can't find any collections in Oracle PL/SQL that uses pure memory, they all seem to be associated with tables. I'm looking to do something like this in my PL/SQL (C# syntax):

string[] arrayvalues = new string[3] {"Matt", "Joanne", "Robert"};

Edit: Oracle: 9i

Answer 1

You can use VARRAY for a fixed-size array:

declare
   type array_t is varray(3) of varchar2(10);
   array array_t := array_t('Matt', 'Joanne', 'Robert');
begin
   for i in 1..array.count loop
       dbms_output.put_line(array(i));
   end loop;
end;

Or TABLE for an unbounded array:

...
   type array_t is table of varchar2(10);
...

The word "table" here has nothing to do with database tables, confusingly. Both methods create in-memory arrays.

With either of these you need to both initialise and extend the collection before adding elements:

declare
   type array_t is varray(3) of varchar2(10);
   array array_t := array_t(); -- Initialise it
begin
   for i in 1..3 loop
      array.extend(); -- Extend it
      array(i) := 'x';
   end loop;
end;

The first index is 1 not 0.

Answer 2

You could just declare a DBMS_SQL.VARCHAR2_TABLE to hold an in-memory variable length array indexed by a BINARY_INTEGER:

DECLARE
   name_array dbms_sql.varchar2_table;
BEGIN
   name_array(1) := 'Tim';
   name_array(2) := 'Daisy';
   name_array(3) := 'Mike';
   name_array(4) := 'Marsha';
   --
   FOR i IN name_array.FIRST .. name_array.LAST
   LOOP
      -- Do something
   END LOOP;
END;

You could use an associative array (used to be called PL/SQL tables) as they are an in-memory array.

DECLARE
   TYPE employee_arraytype IS TABLE OF employee%ROWTYPE
        INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
   employee_array employee_arraytype;
BEGIN
   SELECT *
     BULK COLLECT INTO employee_array
     FROM employee
    WHERE department = 10;
   --
   FOR i IN employee_array.FIRST .. employee_array.LAST
   LOOP
      -- Do something
   END LOOP;
END;

The associative array can hold any make up of record types.

Hope it helps, Ollie.

Answer 3

You can also use an oracle defined collection

DECLARE 
  arrayvalues sys.odcivarchar2list;
BEGIN
  arrayvalues := sys.odcivarchar2list('Matt','Joanne','Robert');
  FOR x IN ( SELECT m.column_value m_value
               FROM table(arrayvalues) m )
  LOOP
    dbms_output.put_line (x.m_value||' is a good pal');
  END LOOP;
END;

I would use in-memory array. But with the .COUNT improvement suggested by uziberia:

DECLARE
  TYPE t_people IS TABLE OF varchar2(10) INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
  arrayvalues t_people;
BEGIN
  SELECT *
   BULK COLLECT INTO arrayvalues
   FROM (select 'Matt' m_value from dual union all
         select 'Joanne'       from dual union all
         select 'Robert'       from dual
    )
  ;
  --
  FOR i IN 1 .. arrayvalues.COUNT
  LOOP
    dbms_output.put_line(arrayvalues(i)||' is my friend');
  END LOOP;
END;

Another solution would be to use a Hashmap like @Jchomel did here.

NB:

With Oracle 12c you can even query arrays directly now!

Answer 4

Another solution is to use an Oracle Collection as a Hashmap:

declare 
-- create a type for your "Array" - it can be of any kind, record might be useful
  type hash_map is table of varchar2(1000) index by varchar2(30);
  my_hmap hash_map ;
-- i will be your iterator: it must be of the index's type
  i varchar2(30);
begin
  my_hmap('a') := 'apple';
  my_hmap('b') := 'box';
  my_hmap('c') := 'crow';
-- then how you use it:

  dbms_output.put_line (my_hmap('c')) ;

-- or to loop on every element - it's a "collection"
  i := my_hmap.FIRST;

  while (i is not null)  loop     
    dbms_output.put_line(my_hmap(i));      
    i := my_hmap.NEXT(i);
  end loop;

end;