How the Data Dictionary Is Used

The Oracle Server, users (DBAs and regular users alike), and programs access the data dictionary to find information about users, schema objects, and storage structures. The data contained in the data dictionary are needed for the server to function properly. This is why you should never, ever update the information in these tables manually. The data is read whenever the database is operational to determine whether objects exist and what users have what access to those objects. Information in the data dictionary is modified whenever a Data Definition Language (DDL) statement is executed in the instance.

Users and database administrators can use the data dictionary views as a reference. Some views are accessible ...

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