This book teaches you all of the core concepts behind using the database, provides you the tools and techniques you need to master, and gives you practical working examples of Oracle programming in action. This book is aimed at would-be Oracle developers and administrators alike. No matter what your background, this book can guide you, using a straightforward and practical approach to the technology. By the time youve completed it, youll have all the knowledge you need to use Oracle databases with confidence. As the world's leading relational database, Oracle provides a rich environment to store, handle, and extract data. When used properly, it is the fastest and most scalable database for building enterprise applications. However, with power comes complexity, and mastering the Oracle database is not an overnight job. It takes time, practice, and real world experience. The authors of this book provide you with the tools to gain that experience. They understand the challenges that need to be met when developing applications, and they guarantee that the techniques taught in this book will lead you through many successful implementations.