Here is how to build a function that returns a result set that can be queried as if it were a table:
SQL> create type emp_obj is object (empno number, ename varchar2(10));
2 /
Type created.
SQL> create type emp_tab is table of emp_obj;
2 /
Type created.
SQL> create or replace function all_emps return emp_tab
2 is
3 l_emp_tab emp_tab := emp_tab();
4 n integer := 0;
5 begin
6 for r in (select empno, ename from emp)
7 loop
8 l_emp_tab.extend;
9 n := n + 1;
10 l_emp_tab(n) := emp_obj(r.empno, r.ename);
11 end loop;
12 return l_emp_tab;
13 end;
14 /
Function created.
SQL> select * from table (all_emps);
EMPNO ENAME
---------- ----------
7369 SMITH
7499 ALLEN
7521 WARD
7566 JONES
7654 MARTIN