Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a web-based software development environment that runs on an Oracle database. It is fully supported and comes standard (at no additional cost) with all Oracle Database editions and Oracle Autonomous Database Service. Starting with Oracle 11g, APEX is installed by default as part of the core database install.
Oracle APEX is also now available as a managed cloud service, Oracle APEX Application Development service that can be accessed via cloud console.
As per Oracle’s new update, few topics have been added in the 1Z0-998-20 version certification exam, including private endpoint, DB monitoring, and Application Express (APEX), etc.
To know more about the Database Cloud Services certification exam, check our blog on 1z0-998-20 Exam
In this blog post, we will cover
Highlights of Oracle Application Express
- Oracle APEX can be used to build complex web applications that can be used in most modern web browsers. The APEX development environment is also browser-based.
- It’s a low-code development platform that enables you to build scalable, secure enterprise apps, with world-class features, that can be deployed anywhere.
- By Using APEX, developers can quickly develop and deploy compelling apps that solve real problems and provide immediate value.
- APEX minimizes the complexity involved with multi-faceted applications and provides developers with the features they need to solve business problems without needing to become experts in vast web technologies.
Features of Oracle APEX
Data
Oracle APEX strives to make it as easy as possible for you to display, manipulate, chart, and process data as easily and efficiently as possible. No matter where your data comes from, whether it is from a local database, remote database, or a web service, Oracle APEX features state-of-the-art functionality to help you turn data into information.
Monitoring
Monitoring and logging provide insight into how users interact with your application. This information can be indispensable in identifying hacking attempts, performance issues and application errors. With Oracle Application Express you are covered because monitoring and logging are already built-in.
User Interface
Universal Theme is a user interface for Application Express that enables developers to build modern web applications without requiring extensive knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. With some working knowledge of Application Express, you can use Universal Theme to easily build a responsive application that is highly accessible, easily customizable, and easy to maintain.
Globalization
Globalization is the ability of a development framework to support developing applications that perform well and correctly in multiple languages and locales environment. Oracle APEX is designed with globalization in mind, this includes support for translating applications as well as localization, i.e. adapting an application to support a specific language and locale.
Security
Oracle APEX is designed to build web apps that are highly secure out of the box. In a world of constantly changing web standards and increasingly resourceful attackers finding new ways to hack sites, our focus on security means that your applications stay protected.
Accessibility
Oracle APEX is designed to make it as easy as possible for developers to build highly accessible web apps, that provide an inclusive user experience for users with different abilities and requirements. With every release, we strive to make this easier than ever, with new accessibility-specific functionality being added, known accessibility bugs being fixed, and ongoing improvement of our own testing strategies, all with the aim of providing a tool with a fantastic developer, and user experience for everybody.
APEX Configuration
Oracle Application Express is a rapid web application development tool for the Oracle database. It is a low-code development platform that enables you to build scalable, secure enterprise apps, with world-class features, that can be deployed anywhere.
As a database user, DBA, or application developer
- Access OCI autonomous database console and get URL for the apex web console.
- Create a VNC connection to the developer client VM and access apex on your database as an admin user.
- Setup additional apex developer users.
Oracle APEX Benefits
Below are the benefits of the Oracle Application Express
Fully Supported, No Cost Option of the Oracle Database
- Apex is a complete development environment running on the Oracle database for zero cost.
Low Code Platform & Rapid Application Development (RAD) Tool
- Apex allows users to develop applications extremely fast with little or no coding required.
Secure and Fully Integrated with the Oracle Database
- Unlike other development platforms that generate SQL, Oracle Apex takes full advantage of the latest Oracle database features, such as Real Application Clusters, Flashback Query, SQL Extensions, and all Analytic Functions. Apex is secure with rich built-in authorization, authentication, and logging features.
Lightweight, Scaleable, and Performant
- Apex deploys with a minimal application server footprint, unlike Java and .NET applications which can require dozens of middle-tier servers to run business logic at scale. Apex takes advantage of additional cores or RAC servers but rarely needs to add compute.
How To Acess APEX in Oracle Cloud
APEX is available in both User-Manager DB and Autonomous DB, You can access the APEX tool (first login to your Oracle Cloud console) via your autonomous database as
- Log in to your cloud account navigate to your Autonomous DB.
2. In the DB details page, you will see the Oracle Application Express option, click on Open APEX.
3. It will redirect you to a login page, enter the Admin password for your Autonomous DB (Transaction/Data Warehouse)
4. You will be logged in to Oracle APEX.
FAQ’s On APEX
Q.1 What is Oracle Apex?
Ans: Oracle Apex is a free web development tool. Apex runs on PL/SQL inside the web browser. Apex is a runtime environment. It is used to code web apps. User-specific with user ID log into Apex & run the apps from the menu. We can create reports, forms & charts. It is flexible to integrate own javascript code. The outputs can be obtained off the screen as PDF or can be to the screen, Flash, Excel Sheet or into web services via integration process
Q2. What are the uses of APEX?
Ans:
1. Builds professional-looking web applications that are both fast and secure.
2. Runs on and lives in the Oracle database. APEX framework and metadata are stored in Oracle tables.
3. It is FREE. No licensing required.
4. Fast learning curve for developers to build applications.
5. Deployment of application is as simple as ‘Export and Import’ if hard-coded references of values that change between environments are avoided.
6. Lot of scope for customization of application look and feel.
7. Scalable for high user volume. ASKTOM, former ORACLE METALINK (before migrated to Flash version) and MANY APPLICATIONS are built using APEX.
8. Can be configured to use Oracle SSO and EBS fnd user repository.
Q3. What kind of activities you have done for apex as apex dba?
Ans:
1) setup of apex environment
2) SSL configuration
3) USER access
4) Security modal definition
5) ad hoc issue and resolution
6) Patching /Performance /
Conclusion
We have covered the APEX overview, benefits, and also how we can access it from the Oracle Cloud Console.
Related/References
- Oracle Cloud Database Deployment Options (VMDB, BMDB, ExaCC, ExaCS & Autonomous (ADW, ATP)
- How To Create Database on Oracle’s Gen2 Cloud (OCI)
- Overview of Autonomous Databases – Oracle Serverless Database
- [New Update] Oracle Database 21c Now Available On Oracle Cloud (OCI)
- [1Z0-1044] Oracle Cloud Platform Data Management 2020 Associate
Next Task For You
If you want to upgrade your career from an Oracle DBA to Oracle Cloud DBA, and wants to clear Oracle Cloud Database Service Specialist[1Z0-1093-21] & Oracle Cloud Autonomous Database Certification[1Z0-931-21] with 18 Hands-On labs, then register for a FREE class, and don’t miss an opportunity to gain a plethora of insights on becoming a certified Oracle Cloud DBA.
![Microsoft Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect [AB-100] | K21 Academy](https://test.k21academy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Microsoft-Agentic-AI-Business-Solutions-Architect-AB-100-Exam-Overview1.png)
