Open Database Connectivity: Difference between revisions

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'''Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)''' is a standard [[software]] [[application programming interface|API]] for connecting to [[database management system]]s (DBMS). This API is independent of any one [[programming language]], database system or [[operating system]]. ODBC is based on the [[Call Level Interface]] (CLI) specifications from [[SQL]], [[X/Open]] (now part of [[The Open Group]]), and the [[ISO]]/[[IEC]]. ODBC was created by the [[SQL Access Group]] and first released in September, 1992.

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|UNIX]], [[OS/2]], and [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] platforms as well.

In addition to the ODBC software, a separate module or [[database 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.