JDBC ARCHITECTURE

JDBC Architecture is divided into 4 layers -

1. JDBC Client
2. JDBC Driver Manager
3. JDBC Driver
4. Database

JDBC API uses a driver manager and database specific drivers to provide transparent connectivity to heterogeneous databases. The JDBC driver manager ensures that correctly driver is used to access each data source/database.

Type 1 Driver : JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver

• JDBC-ODBC bridge driver is developed by sun microsystem. It is a part of standard JDK.
• It is removed from standard JDK from 8.0
• JDBC-ODBC bridge driver uses another driver called ODBC driver to communicate with database.
• JDBC-ODBC bridge driver converts each JDBC call to ODBC call and this ODBC call is converted to database specific call and send to database.

Advantage

• It is only one driver which is able to communicate with any database provided ODBC drivers.

Disadvantages

• It is platform dependent.
• Each client system required ODBC drivers.
• Database vendors may not provide ODBC drivers.

Type 2 Driver : Native API and partially java driver

• Type 2 driver are vendor specific drivers. These drivers are provided by database vendors.
• Type 2 driver converts every JDBC call to Native API. This Native API communicate with database.

Advantage

• It is efficient as compared to Type 1 driver.

Disadvantage

• Need software at client side (Native API)
• Native API's are platform dependent.
• It is used to develop two-tier applications

Type 3 Driver : Net API and all java drivers

It is developed based on 3 tier architecture. Client, Middle Server, Database Server. Type 3 driver uses network protocol or API to communicate with middle server which uses Type 1, Type 2 or Type 4 drivers to communicate with database.

Advantage

• Not required any software at client side

Disadvantages

• Not efficient

Type 4 : Native protocol and pure java driver

• Type 4 drivers are called vendor specific drivers, because it is developed by database vendors.
• These drivers implement database specific protocol.
• It is direct to database driver.

Advantage

• Efficient
• Not required any software at client side.
• For developing 2-tier and n-tier application