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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between SQL Server and Oracle?

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SQL Server and Oracle are both relational database management systems (RDBMS) with some key differences in terms of features, platforms, and application development. Here are some of the main differences between the two:

  1. Platform compatibility: Oracle runs on a wide variety of platforms, while SQL Server can be installed on a handful of platforms.
  2. Query optimization: Oracle supports star query optimization, while SQL Server does not offer query optimization.
  3. Transaction process: In Oracle, values do not change before committing, whereas in SQL Server values are changed even before committing. Oracle allows rollback during the transaction process, whereas SQL Server does not allow rollback in the transaction process.
  4. Schemas: Oracle supports many "Schemas" with the instance, whereas SQL Server offers "Schemas" within each user database.
  5. Backups: Oracle allows database, full, file-level, incremental, and differential backups, while SQL Server allows full, partial, and incremental backups.
  6. Triggers: Oracle uses both "after" and "before" triggers, whereas SQL Server mostly uses only "after" triggers.
  7. Ease of use: SQL Server is generally considered easier to use and install, with more straightforward admin tools compared to Oracle.
  8. Integration with programming languages: SQL Server supports a wider range of programming languages, including Transact-SQL (T-SQL), C#, and Visual Basic, which are part of the .NET framework. Oracle, on the other hand, primarily uses the PL/SQL language, which is based on the SQL language and designed to be used with Oracle databases.
  9. Data types: Oracle has a more precise data type, TIMESTAMP, with a precision of 1/100000000th of a second, compared to SQL Server's date/time precision of 1/300th of a second.
  10. Performance and features: While both SQL Server and Oracle are enterprise-ready and offer similar performance and features, Oracle is considered to have more significant hardware requirements.
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  • What is the Difference Between SQL Server and Oracle?
  • Comparative Table: SQL Server vs Oracle

    • Comparative Table: SQL Server vs Oracle

    Here is a table comparing the differences between SQL Server and Oracle when creating tables:

    Feature SQL Server Oracle
    Create Table Statement Similar, but indexing properties can be specified independently Similar, but indexing properties can be specified independently
    Invisible/Hidden Column Supported for security purposes Not directly supported, but can be achieved using views
    Unique Keys Defined in CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements Defined as part of CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements, and internally created as unique indexes
    Foreign Keys Can be defined in CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements Provides declarative referential integrity, can be added to table definition in CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements
    SELECT INTO Statement Supported for inserting rows into a table Not supported, replace with INSERT…SELECT statements

    Please note that this comparison is not exhaustive and there are many more differences between SQL Server and Oracle. However, these are some key differences when creating tables in both databases.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.