Oracle Corporation, often simply known as Oracle, is one of the world’s leading multinational computer technology corporations. Incorporated on October 29, 1977, in California and later reincorporated on September 9, 1986, in Delaware, ORCL is headquartered in Austin, Texas, United States. The company specializes in developing and marketing database software and technology, cloud engineered systems, and enterprise software products — particularly its own brands of database management systems.
Oracle's primary business is a suite of products comprising software and hardware systems, along with related services. These include Oracle Cloud Services, Oracle Applications, Oracle Database, Oracle Fusion Middleware, and Java among many others. Oracle Cloud, a service offered by Oracle, provides servers, storage, network, applications, and services through a global network of Oracle Corporation managed data centers. This product aims to provide users with capabilities to develop, test, deploy, and manage workloads seamlessly.
In terms of its market presence, Oracle earned the reputation as the second-largest software maker by revenue, after Microsoft, with its presence in 175 countries. Oracle has more than 400,000 customers — including 100 of the Fortune 100 — representing a variety of sizes and industries in more than 145 countries around the globe.
Oracle is also recognized for a series of acquisitions. In January 2010, the company bought Sun Microsystems, gaining control of the Java programming language, the Solaris operating system, the MySQL database, and also the office suite StarOffice. These acquisitions broadened Oracle’s portfolio of software and hardware products.
The company is led by Chief Executive Officer Safra Catz, who has held the position since 2014. She was one of the two CEOs leading Oracle following the departure of Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle Corporation, until Mark Hurd's untimely death in 2019. After Hurd's death, Catz remained the sole CEO, with Larry Ellison as executive chairman and CTO. Between them, they continue to guide the global brand that Oracle has become, headquartered in a distinctive, ring-shaped building in Redwood City, California, that is a landmark of Silicon Valley.
Today Oracle Corporation (ORCL) continues to put a strong emphasis on research and development, spending more than 16% of its revenue annually in this area. It remains an innovative giant in the technology industry, developing emerging technologies like cloud-based applications and artificial intelligence. It is truly a major player of the digital era, enabling businesses and consumers alike to streamline operations and simplify their digital lives.