The JDBC Interfaces

The methods discussed in the prior section are expressed as Java interfaces that are implemented by specific database drivers. Database application developers use the following JDBC interfaces:

• java.sql.DriverManager: A class that provides methods to load drivers and to support the creation of database connections by using methods expressed in the java.sql.Driver interface.

• java.sql.Connection: Represents a particular connection on which further actions are allowed.

• java.sql.Statement: Associated to a connection, this allows SQL statements to be sent to the database.

• java.sql.CallableStatement: This has the same role as java.sql.Statement but in the context of database stored procedures.

• java.sql.PreparedStatement: This also has the same role as java.sql.Statement but in the context of precompiled SQL.

• java.sql.ResultSet: Allows access to the rows of a previously executed statement.

• java.sql.ResultSetMetaData: Gives information such as the type and properties of the columns in a result set.

• java.sql.DatabaseMetaData: Provides information about the database as a whole.

Figure 5-3 is a simplified view of the relationship between the driver manager and the connection, statement, and result set objects.

Figure 5-3: The relationship between the main JDBC interfaces.