Oracle SYNONYM

Synonyms are a very powerful feature of Oracle and other SQL-compliant relational database systems. They are used as a database shorthand. They make it possible to shorten the specification of long or complex object names. This is especially useful for shared tables or views. In addition, the use of DATABASE LINKS in synonyms allows transparent access to other databases on other nodes or even other entire systems halfway around the globe.

A synonym is an alternative name for objects such as tables, views, sequences, stored procedures, and other database objects.

Create and drop SYNONYM

SQL> CREATE SYNONYM ShorterNameForEmployee FOR Employee;

Synonym created.

SQL> select * from ShorterNameForEmployee;

ID   FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME  START_DAT END_DATE      SALARY CITY      
---- ---------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
01   Jason      Martin     25-JUL-96 25-JUL-06    1234.56 Toronto   
02   Alison     Mathews    21-MAR-76 21-FEB-86    6661.78 Vancouver 
03   James      Smith      12-DEC-78 15-MAR-90    6544.78 Vancouver 
04   Celia      Rice       24-OCT-82 21-APR-99    2344.78 Vancouver 
05   Robert     Black      15-JAN-84 08-AUG-98    2334.78 Vancouver 
06   Linda      Green      30-JUL-87 04-JAN-96    4322.78 New York  
07   David      Larry      31-DEC-90 12-FEB-98    7897.78 New York  
08   James      Cat        17-SEP-96 15-APR-02    1232.78 Vancouver 

8 rows selected.

SQL> DROP SYNONYM ShorterNameForEmployee;

Synonym dropped.