Static methods v14

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Like a member method, a static method belongs to a type. A static method, however, is invoked not by an instance of the type, but by using the name of the type. For example, to invoke a static function named get_count, defined in the emp_obj_type type, you can write:

emp_obj_type.get_count();

A static method doesn't have access to and can't change the attributes of an object instance. It doesn't typically work with an instance of the type.

The following object type specification includes a static function get_dname and a member procedure display_dept:

CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE dept_obj_typ AS OBJECT (
    deptno          NUMBER(2),
    STATIC FUNCTION get_dname(p_deptno IN NUMBER) RETURN VARCHAR2,
    MEMBER PROCEDURE display_dept
);

The object type body for dept_obj_typ defines a static function named get_dname and a member procedure named display_dept:

CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE BODY dept_obj_typ AS
    STATIC FUNCTION get_dname(p_deptno IN NUMBER) RETURN VARCHAR2
    IS
        v_dname     VARCHAR2(14);
    BEGIN
        CASE p_deptno
            WHEN 10 THEN v_dname := 'ACCOUNTING';
            WHEN 20 THEN v_dname := 'RESEARCH';
            WHEN 30 THEN v_dname := 'SALES';
            WHEN 40 THEN v_dname := 'OPERATIONS';
            ELSE v_dname := 'UNKNOWN';
        END CASE;
        RETURN v_dname;
    END;

    MEMBER PROCEDURE display_dept
    IS
    BEGIN
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Dept No    : ' || SELF.deptno);
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Dept Name  : ' ||
            dept_obj_typ.get_dname(SELF.deptno));
    END;
END;

The static function get_dname can't reference SELF. Since a static function is invoked independently of any object instance, it has no implicit access to any object attribute.

Member procedure display_dept can access the deptno attribute of the object instance passed in the SELF parameter. It isn't necessary to explicitly declare the SELF parameter in the display_dept parameter list.

The last DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE statement in the display_dept procedure includes a call to the static function get_dname, qualified by its object type name dept_obj_typ.

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