With Oracle9i, Oracle is bringing the next generation of relational database technology to the mainstream market, by providing users the ability to define and store business objects in the database, and by extending support for rich, multimedia datatypes. Oracle9i integrates object data and relational data, allowing customers to treat object data as relations and also relational data as objects. For example, Oracle allows users to use SQL to access objects and to use object views to compose objects from relational data. New features designed for use with objects, such as fully updatable views, can be used with relational tables. Oracle9i does not require users to migrate any of their existing Oracle7 applications. This creates a smooth evolutionary path that allows object types and relational tables to coexist in the same database, and existing Oracle7 applications and tools to coexist with Oracle9i applications. It leverages existing investments in four important ways:
It integrates relational data with objects in the same data store.
It exploits proven Oracle technology to provide customers with a robust, scalable deployment platform.
It allows customers to use their huge base of existing applications, without needing to migrate them.
It leverages customers’ knowledge of existing application development products and tools.