JDBCTM API Documentation

 Documentation Contents

The JDBCTM API provides universal data access from the JavaTM programming language. Using the JDBC 3.0 API, you can access virtually any data source, from relational databases to spreadsheets and flat files. JDBC technology also provides a common base on which tools and alternate interfaces can be built.

The JDBC 3.0 API is comprised of two packages:

  1. the java.sql package
  2. the javax.sql package, which adds server-side capabilities

You automatically get both packages when you download the JavaTM 2 Platform, Standard Edition, Version 1.4 (J2SETM).

JDBC Technology Drivers

To use the JDBC API with a particular database management system, you need a JDBC technology-based driver to mediate between JDBC technology and the database. Depending on various factors, a driver might be written purely in the Java programming language or in a mixture of the Java programming language and JavaTM Native Interface (JNI) native methods. The JDBC web site maintains a list of vendors with drivers currently available or under development.

The latest SDK includes a JDBC-ODBC Bridge driver that makes most Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers available to programmers using the JDBC API. JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver describes the current status of this software. Note that the bridge driver included in the JavaTM 2 Platform, Standard Edition, version 1.4 (J2SETM) is appropriate only for experimental use or when no other driver is available.

Getting Started
The JDBCTM API Specification
Online Tutorials
Related Documents

Home Page for JDBC API on java.sun.com

Copyright © 2002 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Please send comments to: jdbc@sun.com or jdbc-odbc@sun.com

Sun

Java Software