The JDBC API is a Java(TM) API for accessing data in virtually
any kind of relational database. The JDBC API consists of a set of classes
and interfaces written in the Java programming language. These provide
a standard API for tool and database developers and make it possible to write
robust database applications using an all-Java API. Individual database vendors
provide JDBC drivers that implement the JDBC interface and that fit into one
of the following types:
- JDBC-ODBC bridge plus ODBC driver - The Java software
bridge product provides JDBC access via ODBC drivers. Requires code on the
client.
- Native-API (partly Java-enabled technology driver) - This type
of driver converts JDBC calls into calls on the client API for Oracle, Sybase, Informix(R), IBM(R) DB2(R),
or other DBMSs. Requires code on the client.
- JDBC-Network Middleware (pure Java driver) - This driver translates
JDBC calls into a DBMS-independent net protocol, which is then translated
to a DBMS protocol by a server. This net server middleware is able to connect
its pure Java clients to many different types of DBMSs. When
using this type of driver, the network connection is indirect: a connection
that a JDBC client makes to a middleware process that acts as a bridge to
the DBMS server.
- Native-protocol (pure Java driver) - This kind of driver converts
JDBC calls directly into the network protocol used by DBMSs. This allows a
direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server and is an excellent
solution for intranet access. Since many of these protocols are proprietary,
the database vendors themselves are the primary source. Several that are now
available include Oracle, Sybase, Informix, IBM DB2, Inprise InterBase, and Microsoft(R) SQL
Server.