Oracle Database 23ai — Key New Features

 

1. Boolean Data Type in SQL

• BOOLEAN columns can now be created and queried directly in SQL tables.

• Eliminates workarounds for true/false flags.

2. IF [NOT] EXISTS / DROP IF EXISTS in DDL

• Safer and cleaner creation and dropping of database objects without pre-checks.

3. SQL Macros Enhancements

• Expanded support for parameterized, reusable SQL snippets.

• Scalar and table macros make SQL code DRYer and easier to maintain.

4. Property Graph Query Support

• Native graph querying capabilities with PGQL (Property Graph Query Language).

• Makes graph analytics more seamless within the database.

5. Immutable Tables

• Write-once, read-many tables to enforce immutability for audit and compliance.

6. JSON Relational Duality Views

• Combine relational and JSON representations seamlessly.

• Easier to query and manipulate JSON data alongside relational data.

7. PL/SQL Enhancements

• PRAGMA UDF for faster scalar UDF execution.

• Support for BOOLEAN in SQL and PL/SQL.

• Improved compiler optimizations (dead code elimination, smarter compilation).

• Enhanced exception handling and stack tracing.

• INHERIT privileges for finer security control in code execution.

8. SQL Domain Types

• User-defined domain types for better data integrity and governance.

9. Enhanced In-Memory Vector Joins

• Better performance for analytics using vector joins in in-memory structures.