ODBC - Open Database Connectivity

About

In computing, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) provides a standard software API method for using database management systems (DBMS). The designers of ODBC aimed to make it independent of programming languages, database systems, and operating systems.

ODBC was created by the SQL Access Group and first released in September, 1992. ODBC is based on the Call Level Interface (CLI) specifications from SQL, X/Open (now part of The Open Group), and the ISO/IEC.

ODBC access is based on SQL (Structured Query Language) which is an English-like database access language designed to enable end-users to view and manipulate data files.

When an ODBC based application want to connect to a database, it connects to a logical name, the Data Source Name (DSN), which identifies the data source to which it wants to connect.

It does this by calling various ODBC functions provided by an ODBC driver.

Some external repository of configuration information holds:

  • the various DSN values that are available,
  • together with the necessary configuration and control information needed by the ODBC driver to establish a connection
  • and manage usage of the data source.

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