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Oracle® Database SQL Reference 10g Release 2 (10.2) Part Number B14200-02 |
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# REF

Syntax

Description of the illustration ref.gif

Purpose

`REF` takes as its argument a correlation variable (table alias) associated with a row of an object table or an object view. A `REF` value is returned for the object instance that is bound to the variable or row.

Examples

The sample schema `oe` contains a type called `cust_address_typ`, described as follows:

    Attribute                                 Type
     ----------------------------- ----------------
     STREET_ADDRESS                    VARCHAR2(40)
     POSTAL_CODE                       VARCHAR2(10)
     CITY                              VARCHAR2(30)
     STATE_PROVINCE                    VARCHAR2(10)
     COUNTRY_ID                             CHAR(2)

The following example creates a table based on the sample type `oe.cust_address_typ`, inserts a row into the table, and retrieves a `REF` value for the object instance of the type in the addresses table:

    CREATE TABLE addresses OF cust_address_typ;

    INSERT INTO addresses VALUES (
       '123 First Street', '4GF H1J', 'Our Town', 'Ourcounty', 'US');

    SELECT REF(e) FROM addresses e;

    REF(E)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    00002802097CD1261E51925B60E0340800208254367CD1261E51905B60E034080020825436010101820000

See Also: Oracle Database Concepts for information on `REF`s