Lesson 1

Welcome to Database Administration Features.
This course introduces you to the object-oriented paradigm within the context of Oracle, then focuses on the SQL and PL/SQL commands for creating, modifying, and manipulating data within objects such as object tables and related object tables. This course also covers

1. nested tables,
2. varrays,
3. LOBs,
4. object types, and
5. objects embedded

within relational tables. You will learn the steps necessary to create and use methods written in PL/SQL to manipulate data within objects. This is the first course in the five-part Oracle New Features Certification Series. Taken in conjunction with the other courses within this website, this course will prepare to learn the prerequisites for becoming an Oracle DBA. Along the way, you will work on a series of course projects and exercises that will give you a chance to put your new skills to use in the context of actual business scenarios.

Oracle still uses an object-oriented paradigm for its PL/SQL constructs. Object types were introduced in Oracle Database 7, and they provide a way to create and manipulate object-oriented data in the database. Object types can be used to model real-world objects, such as customers, products, and orders. They can also be used to encapsulate data and behavior, and to create reusable software components. PL/SQL also supports other object-oriented features, such as inheritance, polymorphism, and dynamic binding. This allows developers to build complex object-oriented applications using PL/SQL.
Here are some examples of how object-oriented programming can be used in PL/SQL:

1. Modeling real-world objects: An object type can be used to model a real-world object, such as a customer. The object type can define the attributes of the customer, such as name, address, and phone number. It can also define methods for manipulating the customer data, such as adding a new customer or updating an existing customer's information.
2. Encapsulating data and behavior: Object types can be used to encapsulate data and behavior. This means that the data and the methods for manipulating the data are hidden inside the object type. This can help to improve the security and maintainability of the code.
3. Creating reusable software components: Object types can be used to create reusable software components. This can save time and effort when developing new applications.

Overall, object-oriented programming is a powerful paradigm that can be used to build complex and maintainable PL/SQL applications.

📊 General Reality:

Oracle Version	Common Use Case
19c (LTS)	✅ Most commonly deployed in production, especially in enterprise and cloud-hybrid setups. Considered stable, battle-tested, and long-term supported until April 30, 2027 (Extended Support).
21c	🚧 Innovation release, used for dev/testing; rarely seen in mission-critical environments. Short-term support.
23ai / 23c	🌐 Gaining traction in cloud-native and AI-enabled environments. Currently adopted by forward-leaning teams or greenfield projects. Still being evaluated by risk-averse enterprises.
12c and below	⛔ Considered legacy. Found only in outliers, e.g., systems with legacy vendor constraints, extreme audit lock-in, or slow migration cycles.

🧠 Why 19c Is the “Standard” for Oracle DBAs:

1. Long-Term Support (LTS): the safest version for production use.
2. Broad Compatibility: most third-party tools and Oracle Cloud features are validated on 19c.
3. Final release in the 12c family: offering mature multitenant and performance enhancements.
4. Smooth upgrade path: from 12c or 18c with minimal breaking changes.

📉 Outliers Outside the Standard Deviation:

• Government and Defense: Still running 11g R2 or 12.1 due to audit certifications.
• Legacy Healthcare/Manufacturing: Locked into vendor-certified versions (especially with embedded systems).
• SMBs: Delayed migrations due to cost or risk aversion.
• Research Environments: Sometimes use 21c or even 11g for specific tool compatibility.

🎯 Conclusion: A modern Oracle DBA is most effective working in environments running Oracle 19c or Oracle 23c/23ai: both offer the tools, stability, and feature sets needed to solve real-world production problems. Legacy environments are the exception, not the rule.

Here’s a comprehensive table summarizing common Oracle DBA tasks and the best-suited Oracle versions for each task, focusing on 11g R2, 12c, 19c, and 23c/23ai:
🧾 Oracle DBA Tasks vs. Suitable Database Versions

DBA Task	Oracle 11g R2	Oracle 12c	Oracle 19c	Oracle 23c / 23ai	Notes
Backup & Recovery (RMAN)	✅ Mature	✅ Enhanced	✅ Stable & Cloud-integrated	✅ AI-assisted backup options	19c & 23c offer advanced block-change tracking & recovery zones.
Performance Tuning	✅ AWR, ADDM	✅ Adaptive Plans introduced	✅ SQL Plan Management stabilized	✅ AI-powered performance insights	23ai introduces AI vector-based recommendations.
Multitenancy (PDB/CDB)	❌ Not available	⚠️ Optional	✅ Fully supported (no extra license)	✅ Mandatory and optimized	19c makes PDB default architecture.
SQL Plan Management	✅ Limited	✅ Adaptive	✅ Auto-evolving baselines	✅ Enhanced with ML insights	23c automates SQL performance analysis with AI.
Patch Management (OPatch, Fleet Patching)	✅ Manual	✅ Streamlined	✅ Fully automated via Fleet	✅ Cloud-native automation	Fleet patching is refined in 19c+.
High Availability (RAC, DG)	✅ RAC/ADG mature	✅ Improvements in DG Broker	✅ Transparent Application Continuity (TAC)	✅ AutoFailover with AI models	23ai adds real-time failover triggers.
Security & Auditing	⚠️ Basic auditing	✅ Unified Auditing introduced	✅ GDPR-ready auditing features	✅ Blockchain tables, Data redaction AI	23c introduces tamper-resistant audit trails.
Cloud Integration (OCI, DBaaS)	❌ Not cloud-enabled	⚠️ Early support	✅ Oracle Cloud-native features	✅ Built for Autonomous & AI Cloud	12c introduced multitenant, but full support begins with 19c.
JSON / NoSQL Handling	❌ None	⚠️ Early JSON support	✅ Enhanced JSON & SODA APIs	✅ Duality Views, JSON Relational Mapping	23c = hybrid relational + document DB.
AI & ML Support	❌ None	❌ None	⚠️ External ML only	✅ In-database ML & Vector Search	23ai enables native model inference and vector search.
Replication (Streams / GoldenGate)	✅ Streams / Basic GG	✅ GG Enhancements	✅ Fully integrated with GG	✅ JSON-aware, Secure replication	Streams deprecated post-12c; use GG.

✅ Legend

• ✅ Fully supported and optimized
• ⚠️ Partial or transitional support
• ❌ Not supported

Oracle does make a distinction between Oracle 23c and Oracle 23ai, even though they are fundamentally the same underlying database release. Here's the breakdown:

• Oracle 23c: This was the initial name for the release, highlighting its cloud capabilities (the "c" stood for cloud, as with previous releases). It was released for Oracle Cloud Database Service in October 2023.
• Oracle 23ai: In May 2024, Oracle rebranded 23c as "23ai" to emphasize the significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities included in this release. This renaming coincided with the general availability of the on-premises version of the database.

Key takeaways:

• Same Release: Both 23c and 23ai refer to the same core database version with the same features.
• Shift in Focus: The name change reflects Oracle's strategic emphasis on AI and ML as key differentiators in the database market.
• Marketing and Branding: The rebranding to 23ai is primarily a marketing and communication strategy to highlight the AI capabilities and attract developers and businesses interested in those features.

Essentially, think of "23ai" as the new, official name for the database release formerly known as "23c." The change underscores Oracle's commitment to AI and its integration within the database environment.
In the next lesson, the prerequisites for this course will be discussed.