Declaring PL/SQL Exceptions

Exceptions can be declared only in the declarative part of a PL/SQL block, subprogram, or package. You declare an exception by introducing its name, followed by the EXCEPTION keyword. In Example: Determining the Scope of PL/SQL Exceptions, you declare an exception named past_due that is raised when the due_date is less than the today's date.

Exception and variable declarations are similar. But remember, an exception is an error condition, not a data item. Unlike variables, exceptions cannot appear in assignment statements or SQL statements. However, the same scope rules apply to variables and exceptions.