Semicolon or Slash in Oracle SQL: When Should I Use Each?

Guidelines for the use of semicolons and slashes in Oracle SQL

The use of semicolon (;) and slash (/) as statement terminators in Oracle SQL scripts is often confusing. To clarify their respective purposes, please refer to the following guidelines:

Semicolon (;)

• A semicolon indicates the end of a SQL statement and acts as a logical separator.
• It prevents multiple statements from being executed in a single line.
• Using a semicolon at the end of each statement is a widely accepted practice in Oracle SQL.

slash (/)

• Unlike the semicolon, the slash is not a statement terminator.
• Instead, it executes all statements in the current command buffer.
• Using a slash after a sequence of statements will result in multiple executions, which may lead to errors.

Exceptions for slashes

In a few cases, a slash must be used:

• Subroutines (PL/SQL): A semicolon in a PL/SQL subroutine is considered part of the subroutine, so a slash is required to execute the subroutine.
• Statements containing embedded semicolons: Statements such as CREATE PROCEDURE, CREATE FUNCTION, and CREATE PACKAGE contain embedded semicolons. Slashes are required to execute these statements.
• BEGIN...END Blocks: BEGIN...END blocks also require slashes to execute.

Best Practices

For Oracle SQL scripts, the recommended practice is to always use a semicolon at the end of each statement without adding a slash. This ensures a single execution of the statement and minimizes errors associated with repeated executions. However, for PL/SQL subroutines and statements containing embedded semicolons, a slash must be used for correct execution.

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