Updated Jan 15, 2026

How To Create An App using OracleDB Data

Table of Contents

If you want to build an app connected to OracleDB quickly, Adalo’s no-code platform makes it possible without needing extensive coding skills. By integrating OracleDB as your backend, you can securely manage and display data like customer records or inventory in your app. Here’s how:

OracleDB as the Backend: Provides secure, scalable data management with features like JDBC over SSL, wallet-based authentication, and automated performance tuning via Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse.
Adalo for Frontend: Connects to OracleDB through REST APIs using its External Collections feature. This enables full CRUD operations, dynamic data binding, and app deployment to both iOS and Android without rebuilding.
Setup Process: Requires OracleDB credentials, middleware tools (like ORDS), and Adalo’s Professional plan. After linking OracleDB data, you can bind it to app components like lists and forms.
Performance Tips: Use pre-filtered views, enable pagination, and optimize API calls to handle large datasets efficiently.
Security Measures: Implement TLS encryption, restrict user permissions, and use data masking for sensitive information.

Adalo simplifies app-building by letting you design, test, and deploy apps with OracleDB integration in days, saving time and reducing costs.

Step 1: Prepare for OracleDB Integration

OracleDB

Before diving into the integration process, make sure you have all the necessary technical details at hand. This will help avoid potential hiccups during the setup.

System Requirements and Credentials

To begin with, you'll need an Adalo Professional plan or higher, as connecting to external databases requires this level of access. On the Oracle side, ensure you're running the latest 26ai Release Update.

Your OracleDB instance must be externally accessible, and you'll need specific connection parameters, including:

Database server hostname or IP address
Port number (default is 1521)
Service Name or SID
Username and password for the database schema

For Oracle Autonomous Databases, use your schema username for authentication. Additionally, confirm that your Oracle instance is configured to accept inbound connections from external servers. For AWS RDS users, set "Publicly Accessible" to "Yes" and adjust inbound rules to allow connections from the necessary IP addresses. If you're using secure connections with mTLS, have your wallet file (e.g., cwallet.sso), wallet password, and required configuration files ready to go.

Once you've confirmed access and gathered your credentials, move on to pinpointing specific connection details.

Gather Connection Details

Before proceeding, make sure you’ve identified the exact connection parameters for your setup. For Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse connections, it’s best to use the "low" profile as the database service name for optimal performance.

If you’re integrating with Oracle Autonomous Database (ADB-S), ensure your client version supports hostname-based DN matching. Supported versions include 18.19+, 19.2+, 21+, or 23.4+. To avoid synchronization issues, use NVARCHAR2 columns with a UNIQUEID() as the initial value for primary keys.

Step 2: Connect OracleDB to Adalo

Adalo

Now that you have your credentials and connection details, it’s time to link OracleDB to your Adalo app. Adalo doesn’t support direct SQL connections, so you’ll need to use its External Collections feature. For this, your OracleDB must be accessible through a REST API that delivers data in JSON format. Middleware tools like ORDS or DreamFactory are commonly used to expose OracleDB as a JSON API.

Set Up OracleDB as a Data Source

To begin, open your Adalo app and navigate to the Database tab on the left-hand toolbar. Under the "External Collections" section, click Add Collection. Assign a clear name to your collection, such as "Orders" or "Customers", and input the Base URL of your OracleDB REST API. For example: https://api.example.com/api/v2/oracle/_table/tablename.

Next, set up your API authorization. Click Add Item under the Headers or Query Parameters section. For instance, you might add a header named Authorization with a value like Bearer [Your_Token]. Then, define the endpoint actions for your collection:

Get All Records: Fetch all entries (specify the Results Key if necessary).
Get One Record: Typically append /{id} to your Base URL.
Create, Update, Delete: Use the appropriate HTTP methods - POST for Create, PATCH for Update (to avoid overwriting partial data), and DELETE for Delete.

It’s important to note that Adalo requires numeric IDs as primary keys for external collections. It doesn’t currently support text-based IDs, UUIDs, or special characters in identifiers. Additionally, if your middleware returns records nested under a JSON key (like "records" or "resource"), specify this key as the Results Key in the Get All Records configuration. This ensures Adalo can correctly interpret and display the data.

After entering these details, test your connection to confirm everything is working before finalizing the setup.

Test the Connection

To verify your configuration, click Run Test. Adalo will attempt to fetch data from your API, and if successful, it will display a sample JSON response. This step not only confirms connectivity but also helps Adalo automatically detect and map your database properties based on the API’s response. This can save you time on manual setup.

If the test fails, an error message will appear (e.g., "401 Unauthorized" or "404 Not Found"). Double-check your authorization header, Base URL, and any network permissions. If the test runs but no records are returned, ensure the Results Key matches the structure of your API’s JSON response. Once the test passes and your data properties are visible, click Done to save the collection. The new collection will now appear in your database list, ready to be integrated with your app components.

Step 3: Manage and Display OracleDB Data in Your App

Once your OracleDB external collection is connected and tested, the next step is to bring that data into your app's interface. This process transforms raw OracleDB data into a functional and user-friendly interface.

Fetch and Filter Data

Start by adding a List component to your app and setting its data source to your OracleDB external collection. Configure the endpoint to automatically fetch all records. To narrow down the displayed results, apply filters - for example, filtering records where the status is "Pending."

If you're working with large datasets, enable native pagination in the list settings. This feature loads records in smaller chunks instead of pulling thousands of rows at once, which can slow down your app's performance. Additionally, you can set up sorting rules directly within the list component, such as sorting products by "Cost - Low to High". Configuring pagination and sorting early on ensures smoother performance for your app.

Bind Data to App Components

Once your list is set up, bind OracleDB fields to visual components in your app. Use Magic Text to connect a text field to a specific OracleDB property. For example, you could merge the first_name and last_name fields to display a customer's full name in a single line. This dynamic binding ensures that updates in your OracleDB data are immediately reflected in your app.

To create a more interactive experience, enable a Click Action on list items. Link the action to a new screen, and Adalo will automatically pass the "Current Record" data to that screen. This lets users tap on a list item to view detailed information about a specific order, customer, or product - all without the need for extra API calls.

Optimize App Performance with OracleDB

Handling large datasets efficiently is key to maintaining a responsive app. One way to do this is by creating pre-filtered views in OracleDB or a middleware layer. This reduces the amount of data transferred and helps you stay within API rate limits, which are often capped at around five requests per second.

When updating data, use the PATCH method instead of PUT. PATCH only sends the fields that have changed, keeping payload sizes smaller and preventing accidental overwrites or deletions. For data that is frequently accessed or doesn't change often, consider caching it in Adalo's internal database. This reduces the number of external API calls and improves load times. If your app includes images, store them as URLs instead of transferring large image files with every record.

Finally, once your app is ready, deploy it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) or natively to iOS and Android platforms - no rebuilding required!

Step 4: Security and Best Practices

Once your app is set up to display OracleDB data, securing the connection becomes a top priority. Cybersecurity threats, including insider breaches, can lead to significant risks and financial losses.

Protect Sensitive Data

Start by following the principle of least privilege: only grant users the minimum access required for their roles. Avoid using administrative accounts to connect OracleDB to Adalo. Instead, create a dedicated database user with permissions restricted to the specific tables and operations your app needs.

To safeguard data, enable Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) for data stored on disk and use TLS v1.2 or higher for data transmitted over the network. If you're leveraging Oracle Autonomous Database, secure TCPS connections are already preconfigured.

Replace default credentials immediately - change administrative passwords like "SYS" to strong, unique strings of at least eight characters. Configure account lockouts after three failed login attempts to deter brute-force attacks. For sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or credit card details, use data masking or redaction to show only partial data (e.g., the last four digits).

To defend against SQL injection, always use bind variables in your API endpoints instead of directly inserting user inputs into SQL queries. Enable Unified Auditing in OracleDB to track critical actions like privilege changes, failed logins, and schema modifications. Additionally, apply Oracle's Critical Patch Updates as soon as they're released, as attackers often exploit new vulnerabilities quickly.

With security measures in place, you can then focus on optimizing database performance to ensure your app can handle increasing data demands efficiently.

Scale and Tune Performance

To maintain responsive performance, prioritize database-level optimizations. For instance, use the q parameter in API calls to apply filters directly at the database level, reducing the amount of data fetched and improving app responsiveness.

Adjust the array fetch size to balance the amount of data retrieved per request. For frequently accessed but rarely updated data, create indexed views in OracleDB to speed up query execution. Additionally, register your database with Oracle Data Safe to identify vulnerabilities and monitor security configurations. Conduct security assessments at least once every 90 days.

For added protection, restrict database access to specific IP addresses using Access Control Lists, and set up a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) with private subnets to isolate your database from public internet access. This network-level isolation provides an extra barrier against unauthorized intrusions.

Adalo enables you to deploy your app as a Progressive Web App (PWA) or natively to iOS and Android app stores, ensuring your app is production-ready without requiring a rebuild from scratch.

Conclusion

Creating an app using OracleDB data can be a surprisingly quick process. By following the steps in this guide - from setting up your connection details and linking OracleDB to Adalo, to binding your data to app components and ensuring proper security - you could have a working app up and running in just a few days. OracleDB's reliability and scalability add to the overall performance, making it a solid choice for your app's backend.

With OracleDB handling thousands of users seamlessly and Adalo's visual builder simplifying the process of managing data, this method not only saves development time but also reduces costs and minimizes manual data entry.

"No-code development lets nonprogrammers build simple yet productivity-enhancing business applications... These apps go from idea to usability in hours or days, up to a few weeks at most." - Alan Zeichick, Senior Writer, Oracle

The rise of no-code tools like Adalo, combined with robust databases like OracleDB, has opened up app development to a broader audience. Now, business users and citizen developers can turn their ideas into functional apps without needing to learn complex programming languages like Java or C++. This partnership between OracleDB and Adalo truly streamlines the entire app-building process.

FAQs

How do I securely connect Adalo to OracleDB?

To establish a secure connection between Adalo and OracleDB, start by enabling Adalo's Oracle integration and configuring encrypted communication using Oracle's TLS/TCPS protocols. You'll need to download the Oracle wallet file from the Oracle database console. This file contains the SSL/TLS certificates required for secure communication. Once you have the wallet, upload it to Adalo and ensure the connection is set to use the TCPS protocol.

For an extra layer of security, create a dedicated Oracle user with restricted permissions, such as access limited to SELECT, INSERT, or UPDATE operations. Additionally, implement Adalo’s role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure users can only interact with records they are authorized to access. To maintain a secure setup over time, regularly rotate credentials and monitor connection activity. This approach helps keep your app's connection to OracleDB both secure and reliable.

How can I improve app performance when using OracleDB data?

To get the best performance from your app when working with OracleDB data, here are a few strategies to consider:

Fine-tune your queries: Efficient queries are key. Reduce unnecessary joins, stick to indexed columns, and steer clear of overly complex SQL statements that can bog down performance.
Leverage caching: Temporarily store data that’s accessed often. This reduces the need for repeated database calls and speeds up response times.
Paginate large datasets: Instead of pulling in an entire dataset at once, break it into smaller chunks. This keeps things running smoothly and improves the user experience.
Enable connection pooling: Managing database connections efficiently can save time. Connection pooling reduces the overhead caused by repeatedly opening and closing connections.

By implementing these approaches, your app will handle OracleDB data more efficiently and deliver a better overall experience.

How can I connect OracleDB as a data source in Adalo?

To integrate OracleDB as a data source in Adalo, you'll need to subscribe to the Adalo Blue+ plan, which offers the "Connect Any Database" feature. Once you've upgraded, head over to the Integrations section in your Adalo dashboard and choose Oracle from the available database options.

Next, input your Oracle database connection details, including the Host, Port, Service Name/SID, Username, and Password. After entering this information, test the connection to confirm everything is working properly. If the test is successful, save the connection. Your Oracle tables will then appear as external collections, ready for use in your app. You can now retrieve, update, and manage your data directly within Adalo.