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Oracle: Directories

A directory object is an objects that refers to a directory in the file system on the server (computer) where the instance is running. The referred to directory does not have necessarily to exist (but if it doesn't, such a directory object is probably useless).

Directory objects allow to access data stored outside of a database files that are managed by Oracle, such as

external tables,
BFILEs or
datapump import/export files.
files access via utl_file

Directory objects do not belong to a specific users.

ORA-00990

There is no create directory privilege, the following command causes an ORA-00990: missing or invalid privilege error:

SQL> grant create directory to rene;

Instead, create any directory (and possibly drop any directory) must be granted:

SQL> grant create any directory to rene;

The reason there is no create directory privilege is because a directory is not owned by the user who created it (similarly to the create any context privilege).

Oracle: Directories

ORA-00990

See also