What is JDBC?

JDBC stands for the Java DataBase Connectivity API. It is a standardized way for Java-based applications to interact with a wide range of databases and data sources. A JDBC Driver enables Ignition to connect to, and use data from, a particular database system.

JDBC in Ignition

Ignition, being a Java based application, leverages JDBC in order to connect to a variety of data sources. This enables Ignition to offer a standardized set of functionality on a wide range of different systems and databases. This includes databases such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle, but additionally other lesser-known systems as well, provided the manufacturer offers a JDBC driver for the system.

JDBC vs. ODBC

JDBC differs from ODBC (Microsoft's OpenDataBase Connectivity standard) primarily in the fact that JDBC is written in Java, and thus can be used without modification in cross-platform environments. Additionally, whereas ODBC is a complex standard that is becoming technically out-dated, JDBC is a modern, clean specification for cross-vendor database access.