22.3.1. Overview of MySQL Connector/J

MySQL provides connectivity for client applications developed in the Java programming language through a JDBC driver, which is called MySQL Connector/J.

MySQL Connector/J is a JDBC Type 4 driver. Different versions are available that are compatible with the JDBC 3.0 and JDBC 4.0 specifications. The Type 4 designation means that the driver is a pure Java implementation of the MySQL protocol and does not rely on the MySQL client libraries.

For large-scale programs that use common design patterns of data access, consider using one of the popular persistence frameworks such as Hibernate, Spring's JDBC templates or Ibatis SQL Maps to reduce the amount of JDBC code for you to debug, tune, secure, and maintain.

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