Reference counts for CLOB and BLOB columns

For smart-large-object columns (CLOB and BLOB), the database server automatically manages the reference count.

When you store an LO handle into a CLOB or BLOB column, the smart-large-object optimizer increments the reference by one count for the smart large object that the LO handle identifies.

When you delete an LO handle from a CLOB or BLOB column, the smart-large-object optimizer decrements the reference by one count for the smart large object that the LO handle identifies.

At the end of the transaction, the smart-large-object optimizer automatically deletes all smart large objects stored in CLOB or BLOB columns with reference counts of zero and no open LO file descriptors.