Unlike other SQL database objects, the definition for a method is split between CREATE METHOD (see CREATE METHOD) and its signature as defined in its associated CREATE TYPE statement.
Unlike a UDF definition, the following components of a method are defined only in its signature:
- SPECIFIC NAME clause
- LANGUAGE clause
- PARAMETER STYLE clause
- [NOT] DETERMINISTIC clause
- SQL data access (NO SQL) clause
The RETURNS clause is defined both in the CREATE METHOD definition and in the CREATE TYPE signature for the method.