Simple large objects as parameters

Although you cannot define a parameter with a simple large object (a large object that contains TEXT or BYTE data types), you can use the REFERENCES keyword to define a parameter that points to a simple large object, as the following figure shows.

Figure 1. Use of the REFERENCES keyword.

CREATE PROCEDURE proc1(lo_text REFERENCES TEXT)

CREATE FUNCTION proc2(lo_byte REFERENCES BYTE DEFAULT NULL)

The REFERENCES keyword means that the SPL routine is passed a descriptor that contains a pointer to the simple large object, not the object itself.