SQL objects

SQL objects are schemas, journals, catalogs, tables, aliases, views, indexes, constraints, triggers, sequences, stored procedures, user-defined functions, user-defined types, and SQL packages. SQL creates and maintains these objects as system objects.

• Schemas
  A schema provides a logical grouping of SQL objects.
• Journals and journal receivers
  A journal and journal receiver are used to record changes to tables and views in the database.
• Catalogs
  An SQL catalog consists of a set of tables and views which describe tables, views, indexes, packages, procedures, functions, files, sequences, triggers, and constraints.
• Tables, rows, and columns
  A table is a two-dimensional arrangement of data consisting of rows and columns.
• Aliases
  An alias is an alternate name for a table or view.
• Views
  A view appears like a table to an application program; however, a view contains no data.
• Indexes
  An SQL index is a subset of the data in the columns of a table that are logically arranged in either ascending or descending order.
• Constraints
  Constraints are rules enforced by the database manager.
• Triggers
  A trigger is a set of actions that are run automatically whenever a specified event occurs to a specified base table or view.
• Stored procedures
  A stored procedure is a program that can be called using the SQL CALL statement.
• Sequences
  A sequence is a data area object that provides a quick and easy way of generating unique numbers.
• User-defined functions
  A user-defined function is a program that can be called like any built-in function.
• User-defined types
  A user-defined type is a distinct data type that users can define independently of those supplied by the database management system.
• SQL packages
  An SQL package is an object that contains the control structure produced when the SQL statements in an application program are bound to a remote relational database management system (DBMS).