What is the difference between PL/SQL and SQL in Oracle databases?

In Oracle databases, the key difference between PL/SQL and SQL lies in their functionality and purpose. PL/SQL stands for Procedural Language/Structured Query Language and is an extension of SQL that includes procedural programming capabilities. This means that PL/SQL allows you to write procedural code such as loops, conditional statements, and exception-handling logic within SQL statements.

On the other hand, SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard language for interacting with relational databases to perform operations such as querying and manipulating data. SQL is used to retrieve information, insert records, update data, and delete records from database tables.

While SQL is focused on data manipulation and retrieval, PL/SQL is designed for building and executing complex procedures, functions, and triggers within the Oracle database environment. PL/SQL enables developers to create more sophisticated and customizable database applications by combining SQL functionality with procedural programming constructs.

In summary, the main difference between PL/SQL and SQL in Oracle databases is that SQL is primarily a query language for database operations, while PL/SQL is a procedural language that extends SQL functionality to support more advanced programming capabilities.