Chapter 13 Managing Database Access

Managing synonyms

A synonym is an alternative name for various types of objects (table, view, sequence, procedure, function, synonym or database package). Most of the time, synonyms are created by a database administrator as they can be used to:

• Mask the name and owner of an object
• Provide location transparency for remote objects of a distributed database
• Simplify SQL statements for database users

Example

For example, table SALES_DATA is owned by user JWARD. A standard select statement on this table would be:

SELECT * FROM jward.sales_data

The database administrator can create a synonym for this table and owner and call it SALES. In this case, the SQL statement is simplified in the following way:

SELECT * FROM sales

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