| # JDBCTM API Documentation | Documentation Contents

> The JDBCTM API provides universal data access from the JavaTM programming language. Using the JDBC 3.0 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 3.0 API is comprised of two packages:

> 1. the `java.sql` package
> 2. the `javax.sql` package, which adds server-side capabilities

> You automatically get both packages when you download the JavaTM 2 Platform, Standard Edition, Version 1.4 (J2SETM).

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 JavaTM 2 Platform, Standard Edition, version 1.4 (J2SETM) 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
  - Specifications for all releases of the JDBC API are available from our download page

- JDBC API JavadocTM Comments
  - `java.sql` package
  - `javax.sql` package

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

Home Page for JDBC API on java.sun.com

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