From day one, APEX was not a standalone product — it was designed to be downloaded and installed inside an Oracle Database.
Modern APEX applications run on the web. While APEX is the code logic, it needs a web listener to communicate with the browser. Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) is the component that bridges the gap between HTTP requests and the database.
| Year | Event | |------|-------| | 2004 | HTML DB (APEX 1.0) downloadable as scripts | | 2006 | Renamed Oracle APEX 2.0 | | 2011 | APEX 4.1 + ORDS 1.0 released | | 2015 | APEX 5.0 introduces interactive grids, declarative UI | | 2018 | APEX 18.1 – completely free, no license needed for any edition | | 2020 | APEX 20.1 – Dark mode, faceted search | | 2024 | APEX 24.1 – AI assistant, modern REST integration | oracle apex download
Oracle APEX (Application Express) is a low-code development platform that enables you to build scalable, secure enterprise apps, with world-class features, that can be deployed anywhere. Whether you are looking for the latest to set up an on-premises environment or exploring cloud-based options, this guide covers everything you need to get started. Where to Find the Official Oracle APEX Download
Used for production environments where applications should run but not be edited. Key Requirements From day one, APEX was not a standalone
included with the Oracle Database, it allows developers to leverage SQL and PL/SQL to create data-driven web applications. 2. Acquisition and Installation
This installation takes approximately 5–15 minutes depending on hardware. Upon completion, you will see: ... APEX INSTALLED SUCCESSFULLY Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) is the component
Developers use APEX to build enterprise applications primarily using SQL and PL/SQL. Because APEX resides within the Oracle Database, you are working directly with your data. There is no complex middleware to manage, no "impedance mismatch" between your application objects and your database tables, and no expensive infrastructure to provision.
Installing APEX requires a running Oracle Database and a writable directory on your file system. 1. Prepare Environment Verify your database meets memory and version requirements . Ensure Oracle XML DB is installed and configured. 2. Run Installation Scripts Unzip the downloaded file into a local directory.
As of mid-2026, the latest major version is 24.2 , with frequent patch sets like 24.2.16. Download Options:
Current or prior major release of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge ~670 MB for English only; ~1.2 GB for the full distribution Memory Database MEMORY_TARGET should be at least 300 MB