What is the difference between a view and a materialized view in Oracle PL/SQL?

Views and materialized views are both database objects in Oracle PL/SQL that store queries for easy access and retrieval of data. The main difference between a view and a materialized view lies in how they store and manage data.

Focus Keyword: Oracle PL/SQL

View:

A view is a virtual table generated based on the result set of a predefined SQL query. It does not store any data physically but only stores the query definition. Whenever a query is executed on a view, it retrieves data from the underlying tables in real-time.

Materialized View:

A materialized view, on the other hand, is a physical copy of the result set of a query stored on disk. It stores the actual data and is updated periodically based on a predefined schedule or triggered by specific events. This helps in improving query performance as the data is precomputed and readily available.

In summary, while a view is a virtual representation of data that is dynamically generated at runtime, a materialized view is a physical snapshot of data that is stored and updated periodically for faster access.