Efficiently Clear Cache in Oracle SQL Developer- A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Clear Cache in Oracle SQL Developer

Oracle SQL Developer is a powerful tool for Oracle database developers and administrators. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing and querying Oracle databases. One common task that users often need to perform is clearing the cache in Oracle SQL Developer. This article will guide you through the steps to clear cache in Oracle SQL Developer efficiently.

Firstly, it is important to understand what cache is in the context of Oracle SQL Developer. The cache is a temporary storage area that stores frequently accessed data and queries. It helps improve performance by reducing the need to fetch data from the database repeatedly. However, over time, the cache can become filled with outdated or unnecessary data, which can negatively impact performance. Therefore, clearing the cache periodically is a good practice.

There are two main ways to clear the cache in Oracle SQL Developer: using the SQL command or using the graphical user interface (GUI). Below, we will discuss both methods in detail.

1. Clearing Cache Using SQL Command

One of the simplest ways to clear the cache in Oracle SQL Developer is by using the SQL command. Follow these steps:

1. Open Oracle SQL Developer and connect to your database.
2. Click on the “SQL” tab to open the SQL editor.
3. Enter the following SQL command in the editor:

BEGIN
 DBMS_SHARED_POOL.CLEAR;
 DBMS_SHARED_POOL.CLEAR_CACHED_SQL;
 DBMS_SHARED_POOL.CLEAR_CACHED_PLSQL;
END;
/

These commands will clear the shared pool, cached SQL, and cached PL/SQL. Once you have entered the command, execute it by pressing the “F5” key or clicking the “Execute” button.

2. Clearing Cache Using GUI

Another way to clear the cache in Oracle SQL Developer is by using the GUI. Follow these steps:

1. Open Oracle SQL Developer and connect to your database.
2. Click on the “Database” tab.
3. In the left pane, navigate to “DBA > Shared Pool” and expand the node.
4. Right-click on “Shared Pool” and select “Clear Shared Pool” from the context menu.

This will clear the cache in the shared pool, and you may need to clear the cached SQL and PL/SQL separately by navigating to “DBA > SQL Cache” and “DBA > PL/SQL Cache” and repeating the process.

In conclusion, clearing the cache in Oracle SQL Developer is an essential task to maintain optimal performance. By using the SQL command or the GUI, you can efficiently clear the cache and ensure that your database operations run smoothly.