What is a PL/SQL package? what are its Advantages ? 

A package is a collection of related PL/SQL objects. The package contains a body and a specification. The package specification has the declaration which is public and can be used in the PL/SQL sub programs inside the package.

The package body holds the implementation of all the PL/SQL objects declared in the specification.

Example of a PL/SQL Package.

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE emp_data AS 

PROCEDURE add_employee (

      ename VARCHAR2,

      job VARCHAR2,

      mgr NUMBER,

      sal NUMBER,

      deptno NUMBER);

END emp_actions;

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY emp_data AS 

PROCEDURE add_employee (

       ename VARCHAR2,

       job VARCHAR2,

       mgr NUMBER,

       sal NUMBER,

       deptno NUMBER) IS

BEGIN

         INSERT INTO emp VALUES (empno_seq.NEXTVAL, ename, job, mgr, SYSDATE, comm, deptno);

END add_employee;

END emp_data;

Advantages of  PL/SQL packages :

Packages are easier for application designing, encapsulating data, additional functionality and better performance. An application has various modules which can be placed in packages and handled easier.