The destroy() Function

The destroy() function performs any processing necessary before the database server removes a row that contains opaque data. The database server calls the destroy() function just before it removes the internal representation of an opaque type from disk. For example, when a client application issues a DELETE or DROP TABLE statement, the database server calls the destroy() function before it deletes an opaque-type value from a column.

Figure 16 shows when the database server executes the destroy() function.

Figure 16. Execution of the destroy() Support Function

The destroy() function takes as an opaque data type. It does not return a value.