S

scalability

The ability of a system to continue to provide adequate performance as the amount of data, the number of users, or both increase.

SCN

See system change number.

segment

A schema object that stores data outside of the data dictionary. Tables and indexes are segments, while constraints and sequences are not.

segment space management

Defines how free space within a segment is managed.

self-referencing foreign key

A foreign key constraint that refers to the primary key column of the same table.

sequences

Schema objects that generate unique integers.

Server Parameter File (SPFILE)

A binary, dynamically modifiable file that stores a list of instance and database configuration parameters.

server process

The operating system process that executes on the host server on behalf of the user. The server process is responsible for parsing and placing SQL statements into the Shared Pool, copying database blocks into the database buffer cache, and placing transaction recovery information into the Redo Log Buffer.

session

The term used to describe a user's connection to an instance.

SGA

See System Global Area (SGA).

shadow process

Another name for a dedicated server process. See also shared server process.

Shared Pool

The portion of the SGA (System Global Area) where cached SQL statements and supports metadata are stored.

shared server process

Process in an Oracle Shared Server configuration that executes the client requests.

single-tier architecture

A network architecture in which the client and server processes all run on the same computer.

smallfile tablespace

A traditional tablespace that can have multiple datafiles, each limited to 2²² data blocks in size.

SPFILE

See Server Parameter File (SPFILE).

SQL

See Structured Query Language (SQL).

SQL*Loader

The Oracle10g bulk load program.

statement failure

The failure of a single database operation such as a DML (Data Manipulation Language) statement; for example, INSERT, UPDATE, and so on. See also Data Manipulation Language (DML).

static service registration

The inputting of service name information directly into the listener.ora file.

Streams Pool

The portion of the SGA (System Global Area) that is used to cache Oracle queuing information when the Oracle Streams feature is used. See also System Global Area (SGA).

Structured Query Language (SQL)

The English-like language developed to allow users to easily query and manipulate the data stored in relational databases.

SYSDBA

A special all-empowering database authorization assigned to users that allows them to perform any database task.

SYSOPER

A special database authorization assigned to users that allows them to perform a variety of database tasks such as startup and shutdown. Its capabilities are not as encompassing as SYSDBA.

system change number (SCN)

A unique number sequentially assigned to each transaction in the database.

System Global Area (SGA)

The shared memory structure that Oracle uses to cache application users' SQL statements, data, index, and rollback buffers, Java, and redo information.

system monitor (SMON)

The background process that is responsible for instance recovery, temporary tablespace management, and space management.