JDBC technology is an API that lets you access virtually any tabular data source from the Java programming language. It provides cross-DBMS connectivity to a wide range of SQL databases, and now, with the new JDBC API, it also provides access to other tabular data sources, such as spreadsheets or flat files.

The JDBC API allows developers to take advantage of the Java platform's "Write Once, Run AnywhereTM" capabilities for industrial strength, cross-platform applications that require access to enterprise data. With a JDBC technology-enabled driver, a developer can easily connect all corporate data even in a heterogeneous environment.

The "Write Once, Run Anywhere" Java 2 Platform is a safe, flexible, and complete cross-platform solution for developing robust Java applications for the Internet and corporate intranets. The open and extensible Java Platform APIs are a set of essential interfaces that enable developers to build their Java applications and applets. The Java 2 Platform provides uniform, industry-standard, seamless connectivity and interoperability with enterprise information assets.

The JDBC API is the industry standard for database-independent connectivity between the Java programming language and a wide range of databases. The JDBC API provides a call-level API for SQL-based database access. JDBC technology allows developers using the Java programming language to exploit "Write Once, Run Anywhere" capabilities for applications that require access to enterprise data.

JDBC API Overview
The JDBC API makes it possible to do three things:

Establish a connection with a database or access any tabular data source
Send SQL statements
Process the results

Advantages of JDBC Technology
Leverage Existing Enterprise Data

With JDBC technology, businesses are not locked in any proprietary architecture, and can continue to use their installed databases and access information easily - even if it is stored on different database management systems.

Simplified Enterprise Development

The combination of the Java API and the JDBC API makes application development easy and economical. JDBC hides the complexity of many data access tasks, doing most of the "heavy lifting"for the programmer behind the scenes. The JDBC API is simple to learn, easy to deploy, and inexpensive to maintain.

Zero Configuration for Network Computers

With the JDBC API, no configuration is required on the client side. With a driver written in the Java programming language, all the information needed to make a connection is completely defined by the JDBC URL or by a DataSource object registered with a Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) naming service. Zero configuration for clients supports the network computing paradigm and centralizes software maintenance.

Key Features

Full Access to Metadata

The JDBC API provides metadata access that enables the development of sophisticated applications that need to understand the underlying facilities and capabilities of a specific database connection.

No Installation

A Pure JDBC technology-based driver does not require special installation; it is automatically downloaded as part of the applet that makes the JDBC calls.

Database Connection Identified by URL

JDBC technology exploits the advantages of Internet-standard URLs to identify database connections. The JDBC API includes an even better way to identify and connect to a data source, using a DataSource object, that makes code even more portable and easier to maintain.

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In addition to this important advantage, DataSource objects can provide connection pooling and distributed transactions, essential for enterprise database computing. This functionality is provided transparently to the programmer.

Included in the Java Platform

As a core part of the Java 2 Platform, the JDBC API is available anywhere that the platform is. This means that Java applications can truly write database applications once and access data anywhere.

The JDBC API is included in both the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE) and the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE), providing server-side functionality for industrial strength scalability.

Requirements

Software: The Java 2 Platform (either the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition, or the Java 2 SDK, Enterprise Edition), an SQL database, and a JDBC technology-based driver for that database.

Hardware: Same as the Java 2 Platform.

Availability

The JDBC API specification is available on the Java Software web site. The JDBC API and a reference implementation of the JDBC-ODBC Bridge and related documentation are shipping now with the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition, and the Java 2 SDK, Enterprise Edition.


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