What is << some text >> in oracle

oracle, plsql, sql

Solution

It's often used to label loops, cursors, etc.

You can use that label in `goto` statements. Else, it is just 'comment'.

Sample from Oracle:

DECLARE
  p        VARCHAR2(30);
  n        PLS_INTEGER := 37; -- test any integer > 2 for prime
BEGIN
  FOR j in 2..ROUND(SQRT(n)) LOOP
    IF n MOD j = 0 THEN -- test for prime
      p := ' is not a prime number'; -- not a prime number
      GOTO print_now; -- << here is the GOTO
    END IF;
  END LOOP;
  p := ' is a prime number';
<<print_now>> -- << and it executes this
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_CHAR(n) || p);
END;
/

Problem

Original source