How to write a function which returns associative array and call the function in Oracle PLSQL?

How to declare and define function which returns associative array in Oracle PL/SQL?
And how to call the same function from procedure ?

>Solution :

Here’s an example on how to do it:

DECLARE
    TYPE my_associative_array_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(100) INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;
    
    FUNCTION return_associative_array RETURN my_associative_array_type IS
        my_array my_associative_array_type;
    BEGIN
        -- Populate the associative array
        my_array(1) := 'First Element';
        my_array(2) := 'Second Element';
        -- ... add more elements as needed
        RETURN my_array;
    END return_associative_array;

    PROCEDURE use_associative_array IS
        local_array my_associative_array_type;
    BEGIN
        -- Call the function
        local_array := return_associative_array;

        -- Use the array
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('First Element: ' || local_array(1));
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Second Element: ' || local_array(2));
        -- ... process other elements or iterate over them
    END use_associative_array;

BEGIN
    -- Call the procedure
    use_associative_array;
END;

Or alternatively you can use a package:

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE my_package IS
    TYPE my_associative_array_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(100) INDEX BY PLS_INTEGER;

    FUNCTION return_associative_array RETURN my_associative_array_type;

    PROCEDURE use_associative_array;
END my_package;

Package Body

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY my_package IS

    FUNCTION return_associative_array RETURN my_associative_array_type IS
        my_array my_associative_array_type;
    BEGIN
        my_array(1) := 'First Element';
        my_array(2) := 'Second Element';
        -- ... add more elements as needed
        RETURN my_array;
    END return_associative_array;

    PROCEDURE use_associative_array IS
        local_array my_associative_array_type;
    BEGIN
        local_array := return_associative_array;
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('First Element: ' || local_array(1));
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Second Element: ' || local_array(2));
        -- ... process other elements or iterate over them
    END use_associative_array;

END my_package;

Using the Package

BEGIN
    -- Call the procedure from the package
    my_package.use_associative_array;
END;