| # JDBCTM API Documentation | Documentation Contents

> The JDBCTM API provides universal data access from the JavaTM programming language. Using the JDBC 2.0 API, you can access virtually any data source, from relational databases to spreadsheets and flat files. JDBC technology also provides a common base on which tools and alternate interfaces can be built.

> The JDBC 2.0 API is comprised of two packages:

> 1. the `java.sql` package -- included in the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition
> 2. the `javax.sql` package -- included in the Java 2 SDK, Enterprise Edition or available as a separate download

JDBC Technology Drivers

> To use the JDBC API with a particular database management system, you need a JDBC technology-based driver to mediate between JDBC technology and the database. Depending on various factors, a driver might be written purely in the Java programming language or in a mixture of the Java programming language and JavaTM Native Interface (JNI) native methods. The JDBC web site maintains a list of vendors with drivers currently available or under development.

> The latest SDK includes a JDBC-ODBC Bridge driver that makes most Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers available to programmers using the JDBC API. JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver describes the current status of this software. Note that the bridge driver included in the SDK is appropriate only for experimental use or when no other driver is available.

Getting Started

- JDBCTM Technology Guide: Getting Started.

The JDBCTM API Specification

- Specifications
  - The JDBCTM 1.2 Specification. Also available for download in postscript and pdf formats.
  - The JDBCTM 2.1 Core API Specification Update. Also available in postscript format and pdf format.
  - The JDBCTM Optional Package Specification. Available in postscript format and pdf format.

- JDBC API javadoc
  - `java.sql` -- JDBC 2.1 core API
  - `javax.sql` -- JDBC 2.0 Optional Package (formerly known as the JDBC 2.0 Standard Extension)

Online Tutorials

- Basic Tutorial
- Advanced Tutorial
- Rowset Tutorial

Related Documents

- Answers to Frequently-Asked Questions
- Using Blob objects (Binary Large Objects) Chapter 8 of the JDBC Java Series book
- Using Clob objects (Character Large Objects) Chapter 10 of the JDBC Java Series book
- Java Series book JDBCTM API Tutorial and Reference, Second Edition
- Java 2 SDK, Enterprise Edition, documentation web page

JDBC Site on java.sun.com

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