SQL Functions in PL/SQL

Available in procedural statements

Single-row number and character functions

Data type conversion functions

Date functions

Not available in procedural statements

Decode Function

Group Functions (Directly)

Valid use of functions in a PL/SQL block: 

          v_name := UPPER(‘dayakar’);

          v_date := TO_DATE(’12,February 1998’,’DD,Month YYYY’);   

Invalid use of functions in a PL/SQL block: 

          v_tot_sal := SUM(sal);

         v_grade := DECODE(job,’MANAGER’,’A’,’CLERK’,’B’,’C’);