Short for
Java Database Connectivity, a
Java API that enables Java
programs to execute
SQL statements. This allows Java programs to interact with any SQL-compliant
database. Since nearly all
relational database management systems (DBMSs) support SQL, and because Java itself runs on most
platforms, JDBC makes it possible to write a single database application that can run on different platforms and interact with different
DBMSs.
JDBC is similar to ODBC, but is designed specifically for Java programs, whereas ODBC is language-independent.
JDBC was developed by JavaSoft, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems.