SQL Command Line DESCRIBE Command

SQL Command Line provides the DESCRIBE command to display a description of a database object. For example, the following displays the structure of the employees table. This description is useful when constructing SQL statements that manipulate the employees table.

SQL> DESCRIBE employees
Name                                        Null? Type
---------------------------------------- -------- ------------
EMPLOYEE_ID                              NOT NULL NUMBER(6)
FIRST_NAME                                        VARCHAR2(20)
LAST_NAME                                NOT NULL VARCHAR2(25)
EMAIL                                    NOT NULL VARCHAR2(25)
PHONE_NUMBER                                      VARCHAR2(20)
HIRE_DATE                                NOT NULL DATE
JOB_ID                                   NOT NULL VARCHAR2(10)
SALARY                                            NUMBER(8,2)
COMMISSION_PCT                                    NUMBER(2,2)
MANAGER_ID                                        NUMBER(6)
DEPARTMENT_ID                                     NUMBER(4)