Open Database Connectivity: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:28, 25 September 2004

Revision as of 01:28, 25 September 2004

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ODBC is a native interface that is accessed through a language that can make calls into a [[native library]]. In case of the [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] platform, this library is a [[DLL]]. [[Microsoft]] Windows was the first to provide an ODBC product. Now versions exist for [[UNIX]], [[OS/2]], and [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] platforms as well.

In addition to the ODBC software, a separate module or [[Databasedatabase driver|driver]] is needed for each database to be accessed. The functions in the ODBC API are implemented by these DBMS-specific drivers. ODBC allows programs to use [[SQL]] requests that will access databases without having to know the proprietary interfaces to the databases. It handles the SQL request and converts it into a request the individual database system understands.

Most current DBMSs support ODBC which means that [[Computercomputer program|computer programs]]s that rely on ODBC can connect to several different brands of DBMSs using the same basic code.

A [[JDBC-ODBC Bridge]] is a [[JDBC]] driver which employs the ODBC driver to connect to the database. This driver translates JDBC method calls into ODBC function calls. The bridge is usually used when there is no [[JDBC]] driver available for a particular database.