This document discusses techniques for improving SQL query performance by avoiding function calls in SQL queries and leveraging caching mechanisms. It covers scalar subquery caching, which caches the results of functions used in scalar subqueries to avoid repeated execution. Deterministic functions are also discussed, which Oracle can optimize by caching results. The document then introduces the cross-session PL/SQL function result cache and SQL result cache available in Oracle 11g, which cache and reuse function results and full query results across sessions to improve response times for repetitive queries and functions.