Short for Java Database Connectivity, a Java API that enables Java programs to execute SQL statements. This allows Java programs to interact with any SQL-compliant database. Since nearly all relational database management systems (DBMSs) support SQL, and because Java itself runs on most platforms, JDBC makes it possible to write a single database application that can run on different platforms and interact with different DBMSs.
JDBC is similar to ODBC, but is designed specifically for Java programs, whereas ODBC is language-independent.
JDBC was developed by JavaSoft, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems.
