Oracle Metadata

The “data about the database” is referred to as metadata. An Oracle 11g database contains two types of metadata
views:
 Data dictionary views
 Dynamic performance views

The SYS user owns the data dictionary and dynamic performance views in the Oracle 11g database, and they are
stored in the SYSTEM tablespace.

Metadata views also store performance statistics. Oracle Database generates several performance statistics that are
used for self-tuning purposes and are available for administrators to better tune the database.

Data Dictionary vs. Dynamic Performance Views

Data Dictionary Views
Data dictionary views provide information about the
database and its objects.
The DBA_ views usually have plural names (for example,
DBA_DATA_FILES).
The DBA_ views are available only when the database is
open and running.
The data contained in the DBA_ views is static and is not
cleared when the database is shut down.
Automatic Workload Repository (AWR) saves the
performance information in system tables and is made
available for analysis through EM Database Control and
other third-party tools. AWR information is persistent across
database shutdowns. The AWR data is captured at a system
or database level, and session-level information is captured
using another mechanism called the Active Session History
(ASH).
Dynamic Performance Views
Fixed views. The dynamic performance tables begin with
X$. The dynamic performance view names begin with V_$.
Public synonyms are created on these views, and they begin
with V$.
The names of the V$ views are generally singular (for
example, V$DATAFILE).
Some V$ views are available even when the database is not
fully open and running.
The V$ views contain dynamic statistical data that is lost
each time the database is shut down.
Most of the performance statistics information is available
through V$ dictionary views (also known as dynamic
performance views).

The data dictionary view DICTIONARY shows information about the data dictionary and dynamic performance
views in the database. DICT is a synonym for the DICTIONARY view. The COMMENTS column shows the
purpose or contents of the view. The V$FIXED_TABLE view lists the dynamic performance tables and views in
the database.