Java™ JDBC API

The Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) API provides universal data access from the Java programming language. Using the JDBC 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 API is comprised of two packages:

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

You automatically get both packages when you download the Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE) 6.

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 Java Native Interface (JNI) native methods. The JDBC web site maintains a list of vendors with drivers currently available or under development.

The latest JDK 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 Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE) 6 is appropriate only for experimental use or when no other driver is available.

Overview

JDBC Technology Guide

API Specification

Specification documents for all releases of the JDBC API are available from the JDBC download page.

API Enhancements

JDBC Enhancements

Tutorials and Programming Guides

More Information

JDBC Home Page
Answers to Frequently-Asked Questions
Using Blob objects (Binary Large Objects) Chapter 8 of the JDBC Java Series book
Using Clob objects (Character Large Objects) Chapter 10 of the JDBC Java Series book
Java Series book JDBC^TM API Tutorial and Reference, Third Edition
J2EE documentation web page

Java Technology