database link

A network object stored in the local database or in the network definition that identifies a remote database, a communication path to that database, and optionally, a user name and password. Once defined, the database link is used to access the remote database.

A public or private database link from one database to another is created on the local database by a DBA or user.

The following types of database links can be created:

- A private database link in a specific schema of a database. Only the owner of a private database link can use it.

- A public database link for a database. All users in the database can use it.

- A global database link in an Oracle Names server so anyone in the network can use it.

| See Also: Oracle8i Distributed Database Systems for further information about creating private and public database links

| See Also: Create a Global Database Link to create a global database link in an Oracle Names server