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Trail: JDBC(TM) Database Access
Lesson: JDBC Basics
JDBC Basics
Getting Started
Setting Up a Database
Establishing a Connection
Setting Up Tables
Retrieving Values from Result Sets
Updating Tables
Milestone: The Basics of JDBC
Using Prepared Statements
Using Joins
Using Transactions
Stored Procedures
SQL Statements for Creating a Stored Procedure
Creating Complete JDBC Applications
Running the Sample Applications
Creating an Applet from an Application
Home Page > JDBC(TM) Database Access > JDBC Basics
Getting Started

> This lesson helps you to set up a JDBC™ development environment. This includes the following steps:

> 1. Install the latest version of the Java™ platform on your machine. If you don't already have a database, it is recommended that you download the latest version of the NetBeans™ IDE and the Sun Application Server, which comes with Java DB.

> To install the Java platform, follow the instructions after downloading Java platform software and NetBeans. These downloads provide you with the JDBC package. JDBC includes the `java.sql` and `javax.sql packages`, which has the necessary interfaces and classes you'll need for developing JDBC applications.

> You can find the latest release at the following URL:

> >     http://java.sun.com/products/JDK/CurrentRelease

> 2. Install a driver on your machine.

> You also need to install a driver on your machine. If you installed NetBeans with the Sun Application Server, then you have the driver that you need.

> Note: A JDBC driver can come from many sources: database software, such as Java DB, a JDBC driver vendor such as DataDirect, Oracle, MySQL, or an ISV/OEM such as Sun. Your driver should include instructions for installing it. For a JDBC driver written for specific Database Management Systems (DBMS), installation consists of copying the driver onto your machine. No special configuration is needed.

> 3. Install your Database Management System (DBMS) if needed.

> If you do not already have a Database Management System (DBMS) installed, follow the vendor's instructions for installation. You can download the Java DB database, which comes bundled with the Sun Application Server:
> Free Trial Download, and the NetBeans IDE. as well.

> Types of Drivers

> There are many possible implementations of JDBC drivers. These implementations are categorized as follows:

> - Type 1 - drivers that implement the JDBC API as a mapping to another data access API, such as ODBC. Drivers of this type are generally dependent on a native library, which limits their portability. The JDBC-ODBC Bridge driver is an example of a Type 1 driver.
> - Type 2 - drivers that are written partly in the Java programming language and partly in native code. These drivers use a native client library specific to the data source to which they connect. Again, because of the native code, their portability is limited.
> - Type 3 - drivers that use a pure Java client and communicate with a middleware server using a database-independent protocol. The middleware server then communicates the client?s requests to the data source.
> - Type 4 - drivers that are pure Java and implement the network protocol for a specific data source. The client connects directly to the data source.

> Check which driver type comes with your DBMS on the JDBC Data Access API Drivers page. Java DB ships with two Type 4 drivers, an Embedded driver and a Network Client Driver.

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