This chapter reviews most of the Oracle Database features, options, and add-ons and discusses how well they work with unstructured data. Each section also covers potential directions the Oracle Database could move in to better work with this type of data.
This chapter isn't designed to focus on what Oracle can't do but rather shows the potential for the product to grow considering the sound and sturdy architecture it's based on.
What has become apparent when working with Oracle is that the database has a solid foundation which helps when working with unstructured data. From the use of SecureFiles, its support for object types, its locking mechanism, security, memory management, optimizer, and tight integration with capabilities such as XML and Spatial, the database offers a very secure base. From this secure base we can build and expand, to support and scale large volumes of different types of unstructured data.