What is ODBC?

ODBC is an acronym for Open Database Connectivity data sources. It is a database-independent technology that allows one to access data. It is useful in Web applications and allows web pages to utilize SQL (Structured Query Language) syntax to interact with a database. Before being able to access a database with ODBC, an ODBC data source must be set up. ODBC drivers are the middleware that is able to convert SQL syntax to proprietary formats required by individual database engines.

ODBC is a standard that was devised to enable any application to communicate with any database manager. ODBC simplifies client/server computing. A key objective was to define an SQL syntax which could be common to all database engines. It allows programs to use SQL requests that will access databases without having to know the interfaces to the databases. ODBC handles the SQL request and converts it into a request the individual database system understands.

By using ODBC statements in a program, a user can access files in different databases; these include: dBase, Text, Excel, and Access. In addition to the ODBC software, a separate driver is needed for each database to be accessed. The main vendor of ODBC programming support is Microsoft.

Most key database server vendors and the suppliers of many desktop products now provide an ODBC interface, via which the end-user has access to centrally stored data directly from the desktop products. ODBC now dominates client/server database connectivity.