Skip Headers
Oracle® Database SQL Reference
10g Release 2 (10.2)

Part Number B14200-02
Go to Documentation Home
Home
Go to Book List
Book List
Go to Table of Contents
Contents
Go to Index
Index
Go to Master Index
Master Index
Go to Feedback page
Feedback

Go to previous page
Previous
Go to next page
Next
View PDF

Backus-Naur Form Syntax

Each graphic syntax diagram in this reference is followed by a link to a text description of the graphic. The text descriptions consist of a simple variant of Backus-Naur Form (BNF) that includes the following symbols and conventions:

Symbol or Convention Meaning
[ ] Brackets enclose optional items.
{ } Braces enclose items only one of which is required.
|
A vertical bar separates alternatives within brackets or braces.
... Ellipsis points show that the preceding syntactic element can be repeated.
delimiters Delimiters other than brackets, braces, vertical bars, and ellipses must be entered as shown.
boldface Words appearing in boldface are keywords. They must be typed as shown. (Keywords are case-sensitive in some, but not all, operating systems.) Words that are not in boldface are placeholders for which you must substitute a name or value.