Connecting to Oracle Database from SQL*Plus

SQL*Plus is a client program with which you can access Oracle Database. This section shows how to start SQL*Plus and connect to Oracle Database.

To connect to Oracle Database from SQL*Plus:

1. If you are on a Windows system, display a Windows command prompt.

2. At the command prompt, type sqlplus and press the key Enter.

   SQL*Plus starts and prompts you for your user name.

3. Type your user name and press the key Enter.

   SQL*Plus prompts you for your password.

4. Type your password and press the key Enter.

   Note: For security, your password is not visible on your screen.

   The system connects you to an Oracle Database instance.

   You are in the SQL*Plus environment. At the SQL> prompt, you can enter and run SQL*Plus commands, SQL statements, PL/SQL statements, and operating system commands.

   To exit SQL*Plus, type exit and press the key Enter.

   Note: Exiting SQL*Plus ends the SQL*Plus session, but does not shut down the Oracle Database instance.

   The following example starts SQL*Plus, connects to Oracle Database, runs a SQL SELECT statement, and exits SQL*Plus. User input is bold.

> sqlplus
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.0.1 - Beta on Mon Jun 9 15:31:26 2008
 
Copyright (c) 1982, 2008, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
 
Enter user-name: your_user_name
Enter password: your_password
 
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.0.0 - Development
With the Partitioning, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
 
SQL> select count(*) from employees;
 
  COUNT(*)
----------
       107
 
SQL> exit
 
Disconnected from Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.0.0 - Development
With the Partitioning, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
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