Unit 6
Developing Database application development
using ODBC drivers
• Developing database applications with
ODBC drivers involves using a standard API
(Application Programming Interface) to
access multiple database management
systems (DBMS) using SQL (Structured
Query Language).
• This allows applications to interact with
various databases without needing to
know the specifics of each database
system.
What is ODBC?
• Open Database Connectivity (ODBC): is a standard API that enables
applications to access data from various database management
systems using SQL.
• It acts as a translator, allowing applications to interact with different
databases using a consistent interface.
• The ODBC driver acts as a bridge between the application and the
database, translating SQL queries into commands that the specific
database understands.
How it Works
• Application Request:
• The application sends a request to the ODBC Driver Manager.
• Driver Manager Selection:
• The Driver Manager selects the appropriate ODBC driver for the database in use.
• Driver Connection:
• The driver uses the DSN (Data Source Name) to establish a connection to the
database.
• SQL Execution:
• The application can then execute SQL commands to retrieve or manipulate data.
• Data Retrieval:
• The results are passed back to the application through the ODBC Driver
Manager.
Key Components
• ODBC Driver Manager: Coordinates the interaction between the
application and the ODBC drivers.
• ODBC Driver: Translates SQL queries into commands that the specific
database can understand.
• Data Source Name (DSN): A configuration that specifies the database
connection details (e.g., server, database name, user credentials).
Benefits of Using ODBC
Database Independence:
• Applications can access multiple databases without needing to be rewritten for each
database system.
Simplified Development:
• Developers can focus on the application logic rather than the database-specific details.
Portability:
• Applications can be easily ported to different database systems by simply changing the
ODBC driver.
Standardized Interface:
• ODBC provides a consistent API for accessing databases, making it easier to learn and
use.
Widely Supported:
• ODBC is a widely accepted standard, with drivers available for most popular database
systems.
Steps to Develop an Application
Using ODBC
Install ODBC Driver:
• Obtain and install the appropriate ODBC driver for the database you are
using.
Create a DSN:
• Configure a DSN (Data Source Name) to specify the database
connection details.
Write Application Code:
• Use the ODBC API to connect to the database and execute SQL queries.
Test and Debug:
• Thoroughly test your application to ensure it functions correctly with
the database.
Pro’s in connectivity of ODBC
• It easily gets into various “data-bound” objects in various
development sites such as Power builder, Delphi, Visual Basic and Java
etc.
• It also simplifies and speeds up app development.
• It is also helpful to organize many different items at a time, with the
help of templates provided by ODBC.
• It also allows full integration which means that a single system can
easily access different data management systems or we can also say
that ODBC allows a single system to manage different types of DBMS
depending on user requirement or available DBMS type.
• With the help of built-in function we can create custom applications.
Con’s in connectivity of ODBC
• ODBC drivers are not user friendly
• ODBC drivers are not standardized that’s why clients maintain their
own driver, naming tables which creates a problem for management
of large sites
• Slow speed
• As ODBC specification specifies only application protocol so it
basically inherits features of framework in which it is used on. Thus
we can say that reliability depends on implementation of
request/response protocol of underlying framework that is being
used.
