Chapter 2. Leveraging the Database
Even with basic SQL and PL/SQL skills, it is possible to create applications with APEX that are both fast and secure. You probably know that the APEX engine is built by using SQL and PL/SQL. This means that all the features available in SQL and PL/SQL are available to you when you create an application with APEX. When you leverage the functionality that the database has to offer, you will get functionality developed and supported by Oracle. By utilizing the built-in functionality, you will not only save time, but also money to be spent on development. The key thing is to leverage what is available to you instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:
Instrumentation
Efficient lookup tables
Analytic and aggregate functions
Offloading long running programs
Pipelined table functions
Resizing images
Oracle text
