ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a standard programming interface that allows applications to access and interact with different database management systems (DBMS). It provides a universal and consistent method for applications to communicate with various DBMS, regardless of the specific operating system or programming language used.
ODBC acts as a bridge between the application and the DBMS, enabling developers to write code that can be used across multiple platforms and databases. It provides a set of functions and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow applications to connect to a database, execute SQL queries, retrieve and manipulate data, and manage database transactions.
The key feature of ODBC is its ability to abstract the differences between different DBMS. It achieves this by using a driver manager, which acts as an intermediary between the application and the specific database drivers. The driver manager handles the communication between the application and the appropriate driver for the target DBMS, translating the ODBC function calls into DBMS-specific calls.
ODBC supports a wide range of DBMS, including popular ones like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and IBM DB2. The widespread use of ODBC has made it a de facto standard for database connectivity in the software industry.
Overall, ODBC facilitates interoperability between applications and databases, allowing developers to write database-independent code and enabling seamless integration with different database systems.
