The Information obtained from searching the URL: http://java.sun.com/ for JDBC and ODBC

Universal Database Connectivity for the Enterprise

The "Write Once, Run Anywheretm" Javatm Platform is a safe, flexible and complete cross-platform solution for developing robust Java applications for the Internet and corporate intranets. The open and extensible Java Platform APIs are a set of essential interfaces that enable developers to build their Java applications and applets. The Java Enterprise API set provides uniform, industry-standard, seamless connectivity and interoperability with enterprise information assets.

Java Database Connectivity (JDBCtm) is the industry standard for database-independent connectivity between Java and a wide range of databases. JDBC provides a call-level API for SQL-based database access. JDBC allows Java developers to exploit "Write Once, Run Anywhere" capabilities for applications that require access to enterprise data.

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JDBC makes it possible to do three things:

1. Establish a connection with a database
2. Send SQL statements
3. Process the results

JDBC Architecture

The JDBC API contains two major sets of interfaces: the first is the JDBC API for application writers, and the second is the lower-level JDBC driver API for driver writers. Applications and applets can access databases via the JDBC API using pure Java JDBC drivers, as shown below:

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  1. Direct-to-Database Pure Java Driver: This style of driver converts JDBC calls into the network protocol used directly by DBMSs, allowing a direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server and providing a practical solution for intranet access.
  2. Pure Java Driver for Database Middleware: This style of driver translates JDBC calls into the middleware vendor's protocol, which is then translated to a DBMS protocol by a middleware server. The middleware provides connectivity to many different databases.
  1. JDBC-ODBC Bridge plus ODBC Driver: The Sun bridge product provides JDBC access via ODBC drivers. ODBC binary code - and in many cases, database client code - must be loaded on each client machine that uses this driver. This kind of driver is most appropriate On a corporate network where client installations are not a major problem, or for application server code written in Java in a three-tiered architecture.
  2. Native-API Partly-Java Driver: This style of driver converts JDBC calls into calls on the client API for Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, or other DBMSs, and requires that some binary code be loaded on each client machine.

Partnering for Progress

Sun worked with an array of companies in the industry to create and rapidly establish the JDBC API as the industry-standard, open interface for Java applications to access databases.

 

Industry Momentum

Leading database, middleware and tool vendors have been building JDBC support into many new products. This ensures that customers can build portable Java applications while choosing from a wide range of competitive products for the solution best suited to their needs. Below is a partial list of companies that are shipping products with JDBC support (please see the JavaSoft Web site for most recent list):

Vendor DBMS Supported
Agave Software Design Oracle, Sybase, Informix, others via ODBC
Asgard Software Unisys A series DMSII database
Borland InterBase 4.0
Caribou Lake Software Ingres
Connect Software Sybase, MS SQL Server
DataRamp Several dozen through ODBC drivers
IBM IBM DB2 Version 2
IDS Software Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, MS Access, Informix, Watcom, and others via ODBC
Imaginary mSQL
InterSoft Essentia
Intersolv DB2, Ingres, Informix, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase
OpenLink Oracle, Informix, Sybase, MS SQL Server, CA-Ingres, Progress, Unify, and Postgress95
SAS SAS, and via SAS/ACCESS, Oracle, Informix, Ingres, and ADABAS
SCO Informix, Oracle, Ingres, Sybase, Interbase
StormCloud Development Any DBMS that is accessible via ODBC
Sybase, Inc Sybase SQL Server, SQL Anywhere, Sybase IQ,Replication Server and more than 25 enterprise and Legacy database servers via Sybase
Symantec Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server, MS Access, Watcom and others via ODBC
Sun/JavaSoft Several dozen through ODBC drivers
Visigenic Several dozen through ODBC drivers
WebLogic Oracle, Sybase, MS SQL Server
Yard Software GmbH YARD-SQL Database

JDBC Advantages

Leverage Existing Enterprise Data

With JDBC, businesses can continue to use their installed databases and access information easily-even if it's stored on different database management systems.

Reduced Development Time

The combination of Java and JDBC makes application development easy and economical. JDBC is simple to learn, easy to deploy and inexpensive to maintain.

Zero Configuration for Network Computers

With JDBC, configuration is required on the client side, since the connection is completely defined by the JDBC URL. This supports the network computing paradigm and centralizes software maintenance.

Key Features

Full Access to Meta-Data

JDBC meta-data access enables the development of sophisticated applications that need to understand the underlying facilities and capabilities of the specific database connection.

No Installation

A Pure JDBC driver doesn't require special installation; it's automatically downloaded as part of the applet that makes the JDBC calls.

Database Connection Identified by URL

JDBC exploits the advantages of Internet-standard URLs to identify database connections.

Included in the Java Platform.

As a core part of the Java Platform, JDBC is available anywhere that the platform is. This means that Java applications can truly write database applications once and access data anywhere.

Requirements

Software: The Java Platform (JDKtm), any SQL server and any JDBC driver, or Sun's JDBC-ODBC bridge and any ODBC 2.X driver.