Oracle is a relational database management system specifically designed for data warehousing and enterprise grid computing. It’s cost-effective, flexible, and can manage enterprise applications. The Oracle database was the first database that supported SQL.
Oracle is never offline and can support businesses 24/7 with its database availability and seamlessness. Tools such as Oracle Data Guard make sure that data redundancy is maintained for all levels of data storage. In case of disaster situations, you can extract data from secondary locations for daily operations.
Oracle also boasts the Real Application Cluster (RAC), which allows the database to scale horizontally and vertically through a server blade approach. This makes sure that the hardware scales without sacrificing the productivity and performance of the system.
Oracle database offers various tools that help improve system performance, such as Oracle TimesTen Application-Tier Database Cache and Oracle Advanced Compression. In addition, you can use connection pooling to streamline connection queries along with map partitions to optimize performance.
Data in Oracle is highly secure. That’s because Oracle uses database authentication techniques to ensure only legitimate users are allowed access, while auditing methods ensure user accountability when handling protected data. In addition, you can use Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) to encrypt data in rest and make sure sensitive columns are protected from malicious users.
Oracle in today’s market
Oracle database and suite of tools have grown over the years. As a result, Oracle is widely used and trusted by many companies. In addition, Oracle engineers regularly update it to keep up with the latest technological developments. As of June 2021, the Oracle database system is the most used database worldwide with 430,000 customers in 175 countries.
Oracle database currently has 5 editions: Oracle Database Standard Edition One, Oracle Database Standard Edition, Oracle Database Enterprise Edition, Oracle Database Express Edition, and Oracle Database Personal Edition. All these tools have different features and can be used for a variety of projects and use cases.
Issues companies face when hiring Oracle engineers.
There has been an increase in demand for Oracle engineers, and choosing an appropriate Oracle engineer who best suits the organization’s needs sometimes becomes a challenge.
Sometimes selected engineers have the basic database administration knowledge but lack the problem-solving skills that are required when encountering challenging and complex use-cases.
Database features such as size, retention, speed, change rate, and performance change over time. This can make it overwhelming for engineers working on that database. They have to keep up with these changes and implement them in their applications/tech stack.
How to choose the best Oracle engineer?
Other than relevant experience, Oracle developers should have the basic knowledge of Oracle architecture and database management. Candidates with Oracle certification are naturally preferred.
A good Oracle engineer should also understand programming languages such as C, C++, and Java. They should also know database warehouse concepts and the fundamentals of ETL. Furthermore, knowledge of ER designing and database normalization techniques comes in handy while handling databases.
Interview Questions
How can you differentiate between Varchar and Varchar2?
These are Oracle data types that can store character strings of varying lengths. Varchar is ANSI standard, while Varchar2 is Oracle standard. Varchar can store up to 2,000 bytes and holds unused space if the characters inserted in the variables are short.
Varchar2, on the other hand, can store up to 4,000 bytes and doesn’t hold up the unused space. Instead, it releases any unused space to be utilized by the system. Therefore you should use Varchar2 if the length of the character string isn’t fixed.
What is a deadlock, and how do you fix it?
A deadlock is a stage where 2 or more processes are simultaneously waiting for another to release the resource they are trying to access.
While dealing with deadlocks in Oracle, there are few things you can try. You can re-schedule the batch jobs or use smaller blocks with less data. You can also try adding INITRANS for target tables.
What are the differences between a hot backup and a cold backup?
Hot backup is done in real-time while the users are still logged in. Usually in Oracle, the system is creating new data simultaneously and is in ARCHIVELOG mode.
Cold backup can only be done after all database operations have been terminated. While the cold backup is in progress, you can’t perform any other function. It also uses fewer resources than hot backup.
What are some development languages Oracle supports?
Oracle supports various languages such as C++, Java, Visual Basic, C, PL/SQL, and COBOL.
What is a synonym, and can you create one without having a table?
A synonym is an alternative name for database objects that allows you to access an object from a different schema without worrying about authentication. It thus provides you with data independence and location transparency while maintaining the required security for the data.
Job Description
We are looking for a smart and adaptable Oracle engineer to join our team. They should be strong team players who are passionate about software development and database handling.
The perfect candidates should be able to create custom SQL queries and procedures. It’s an excellent opportunity for result-oriented engineers who want to advance their knowledge, learn skills, and take on new and exciting responsibilities.
Responsibilities
- Use table functions, indexes, and views to create, test, and execute SQL code.
- Run SQL code through stored procedures and triggers
- Load data into a SQL loader and create constraints, views, and packages.
- Research and perform database-related tasks and requests.
- Partition large table through range partitions.
- Work on dynamic queries and table indexes.
- Coordinate with product managers, analysts to understand business requirements, meet deadlines and create high-quality products.
- Follow best industry practices and standards.
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Skills and Qualifications
- Working knowledge of Oracle database and its features such as triggers, procedures, and views.
- Experience in creating efficient and readable SQL code.
- Proven experience with ETL, partitioning, and warehousing.
- Experience with DOM manipulation and running queries.
- Knowledge of shell scripting for ad-hoc queries.
- Knowledge of database design principles, analysis, and reporting.
- Problem-solving skills and team spirit.
- {{Add other frameworks or libraries related to your development stack}}
- {{List education level or certification required}}
Conclusion
Oracle database has become highly popular since its creation in 1977. It has been adopted by multiple organizations worldwide for their enterprise grid computing and data warehousing needs. If you’re looking for a database solution that provides scalability and performance without overlooking security, Oracle is the way to go.
