ORACLE APEX

What Is Application Express?

Oracle Application Express (Oracle APEX), formerly called HTML DB, is a rapid web application development
tool for the Oracle database.
Using only a web browser and limited programming experience, you can develop and deploy professional
applications that are both fast and secure.
Oracle application express combines the qualities of a personal database, productivity, ease of use, and
flexibility with the qualities of an enterprise database, security, integrity, scalability, availability and built for
the web.
 Application Express is a tool to build web-based applications and the application development environment is
also conveniently web-based
Simple 3 Tier Architecture
 Simple 3 Tier Architecture

Simple architecture where page requests and submissions made from the browser are tunnelled through the mid-
tier to execute in the Oracle Database and returned as HTML responses to the browser.

No data manipulation or processing is performed in the mid-tier, instead the Oracle APEX engine (inside the
Oracle Database) accepts the page, and interacts with the data schemas in the database.

The mid-tier can be either the preferred Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) running in a Java Server {either Oracle
Web-Logic Server (WLS), Oracle Glassfish, or Tomcat} or Oracle Embedded PL/SQL Gateway (EPG) which is part of
the Oracle DB, or Oracle HTTP Server (OHS) with mod_plsql.
It is common for OHS to be installed in front of ORDS to act as a proxy and serve images.
 How Oracle Application Express Works

Oracle Application Express installs with your Oracle database and consists of data in tables and PL/SQL code.
Whether you run the Oracle Application Express development environment or run an application built using Oracle
Application Express, the process is the same. Your browser sends a URL request that is translated into the
appropriate Oracle Application Express PL/SQL call. After the database processes the PL/SQL, the results are
relayed back to your browser as HTML. This cycle happens each time you either request or submit a page.

Oracle Application Express does not use a dedicated database connection. Instead, each request is made through a
new database session, consuming minimal CPU resources. Application session state is managed in the database
tables by the Application Express engine.
 How Oracle Application Express Works

Behind the scenes, the Application Express engine renders and processes pages. The Application Express engine also
performs these tasks:

 Session state management

 Authentication services

 Authorization services

 Page flow control

 Validation processing
Oracle APEX History
 What is Workspace ?
Oracle Application Express enables a single database to host large number of applications and users. Developers
work in a dedicated work area called a workspace to develop applications against one or more schemas. This flexible
architecture enables a single database instance to act as a Platform as a Service (PaaS), providing a hosted Intranet
capability within the organization, or hosted Internet service. It is common for workspaces to be defined for separate
departments within an organization so that each department can develop their own database objects and applications
independently.
Single Database Instance / Multiple Workspaces
 Roles and Responsibilities
Individuals who access the Oracle Application Express environment can have different roles, responsibilities and rights.
There are four major roles associated with Application Express:

 Instance Administrator

Responsible for instance configuration and monitoring, including workspace provisioning, feature configuration,
security, and instance settings.

 Workspace Administrator

Responsible for requesting, monitoring, and maintaining developers within a workspace. Generally also have developer
responsibilities.

 Developer

Develop applications and required database objects, if objects not already available.

 End User

Defined users for applications that utilize Application Express User authentication scheme.
 What sorts of apps is APEX suitable for?

Large mission-critical apps for thousands of users

Fill in gaps in corporate systems
Modernization of legacy systems
Self-service apps for all employees
Customer / partner-facing portals
Responsive apps that work on any device
Replacing spreadsheets
 Benefits of Application Express

 100% Browser-based Development

To perform application development using Oracle Application Express, you do not need to install any client software.
All you need is a simple browser, which you use to access the Application Builder to declaratively develop, deploy and
run applications. End users also only require a browser, the URL for the application, and their user credentials.

 Rapid Application Development

Using Oracle Application Express, you can develop web-based, database-centric applications that are reliable and fast,
as well as secure and scalable. It has a user-friendly interface, which enables you to create and deploy applications in a
short span of time. You can use the available themes and templates to provide a consistent look-and-feel across your
web pages.

 Declarative Programming

Oracle Application Express uses a declarative framework for web application development. This means that you
specify what to do rather than how to do it. No code is generated or compiled. You interact with wizards and property
sheets to define and enhance your application.
 Rapid Application Development

Build apps in days / weeks not months / years •

Use powerful wizards to create fully featured apps
Low-code capabilities allow non-IT professionals to also build or help build apps
Easily modify to meet changing requirements
Simplistic, tactical apps to meet immediate need
Generally developed by one or two people
 Low Code Development

Simpler and modernized wizards for creating pages.

Allows creation of more advanced pages such as Dashboards, Master-Detail, etc.
Supports adding common frameworks or "Features" when creating an application such as access control,
activity reporting, theme selection, and more
Customize user interface options such as Theme Style, application icon and page icons
Low Code Development
 List-based Navigation Menus

Alternative to using traditional tabs

Available as top navigation menu and side menu
Implemented as standard APEX lists
Supports multi-level hierarchical menu structures
Provides accessible pull-down menus
List-based Navigation Menus
Powerful Reporting capabilities (End-user customizable)
Interactive Grid
Master Detail Layout – N-levels wide or deep
Charting Engine
Calendars
Declaratively define rich client-side interactivity without writing JavaScript or AJAX
Modal Dialogs
Plug-Ins
 About Accessing Your Development Environment

How you sign in and access Oracle Application Express depends upon your user role and where Oracle Application
Express resides. Oracle Application Express may reside in a local on-premises Oracle Database or in a hosted
environment, such as a Oracle Cloud service. The login credentials you use to sign in differ depending upon the
installation type.

Oracle Application Express On-premises

Oracle Database Cloud
 About the Differences Between Runtime and Full Development Environments

When you install Oracle Application Express, you can install two different environments:

Runtime environment. In a runtime environment users can run applications but cannot modify them. Select this
option for production implementations.

Full development environment. In a full development environment, users can develop, modify, run, and delete
Application Express applications. This option provides complete access to the Oracle Application Express
environment described in this document.
 Development / Deployment Options

Export the application from development, producing a plain text SQL file
Import the application into any Oracle Database, on-premises or cloud, with Application Express installed
Send your end users the URL to the application