This book covers all of the JDBCTM API, the application programming interface that provides universal data access for the JavaTM programming language. The first edition covered the JDBC 1.0 API, which provides the basic functionality for data access. The second edition added the JDBC 2.0 API, which supplements the basic API with more advanced features. The 2.0 API provides a standard way to access the latest object-relational features being supported by today's relational database management systems. In addition, it includes features such as scrollable and updatable result sets and improved performance. Further, it extends JDBC technology beyond the client to the server with connection pooling and distributed transactions.
This third edition covers the complete JDBC 3.0 API. The specification for the JDBC 3.0 API combines all previous specifications, including the JDBC Optional Package specification, into one comprehensive document. It also adds new functionality, such as savepoints, auto-generated keys, and parameter metadata, plus enhancements to existing functionality. Beginning with the release of the JavaTM 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SETM), version 1.4, the complete JDBC 3.0 API is bundled as part of the J2SE download. Previously, the JDBC Optional Package had to be downloaded separately.