Explain the differences between a procedure and a function in PL/SQL.

Differences between a Procedure and a Function in PL/SQL

In PL/SQL, both procedures and functions are subprograms that can be used to perform a specific task or calculation. However, there are key differences between the two:

1. Return Type: One of the main differences is that a function must have a return type, which specifies the data type of the value it will return. Procedures, on the other hand, do not have a return type and are used mainly for performing specific actions.
2. Usage: Functions are typically used to calculate and return a single value, which can then be used in SQL queries or other parts of a program. Procedures, on the other hand, are used to perform a series of actions and can also modify the data.
3. Return Statement: Functions must include a return statement to return a value to the calling program, while procedures do not need to include a return statement as they do not return any value.
4. Calling Syntax: When calling a function, the return value can be stored in a variable or used directly in an expression. Procedures are called using a simple CALL statement and do not return a value that can be stored.

Overall, understanding the differences between procedures and functions in PL/SQL is important for efficiently designing and implementing database applications.