What Is JDBC?

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∟JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) Introduction

∟What Is JDBC?

This section provides a quick answer to the question of 'What is JDBC?'

JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) is an API (Application Programming Interface) that provides universal database access for the Java programming language. JDBC is the trademarked name and is not an acronym. But JDBC is often thought of as standing for "Java Database Connectivity."

The latest version of JDBC API specification is JSR-000221 JDBC API Specification 4.5 which is implemented in Java SE 26 and newer versions.

JDBC API 4.5 includes two packages:

JDBC Core API - The java.sql package for normal database applications.
JDBC Standard Extension API - The javax.sql package, which is required for applications that uses connection pooling, distributed transactions, Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI), and RowSet API.

The specification of JDBC 4.5 API is documented in JSR (Java Specification Request) 221 maintained by JCP (Java Community Process). See JSR 221: JDBC 4.0 API Specification at https://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=221.

In order to use JDBC to connect Java applications to a specific database server, you need to have a JDBC driver that supports JDBC API for that database server. For example, Microsoft JDBC Drive allows you to access Microsoft SQL Server through the JDBC API.