JDBC driver

Driver:

A driver is a software component that provides the facility to a computer to communicate with hardware.

JDBC driver:

A driver is a software component that provides the facility to interact java application with the database.

Types of JDBC drivers:

JDBC-ODBC bridge driver.
Native-API driver.
Network-Protocol driver.
Thin driver.

1. JDBC-ODBC bridge driver:

JDBC-ODBC bridge driver is a native code driver which uses ODBC driver to connect with the database. It converts JDBC method calls into ODBC function calls. It is also known as Type 1 driver.

Advantages:

It can be used with any database for which an ODBC driver is installed.

Disadvantages:

Performance is not good as it converts JDBC method calls into ODBC function calls.
ODBC driver needs to be installed on the client machine.
Platform dependent.

2. Native-API driver:

Native-API driver uses the client-side libraries of the database. It converts JDBC method calls into native calls of the database API. It is partially written in java. It is also known as Type 2 driver.

Advantages:

It is faster than a JDBC-ODBC bridge driver.

Disadvantages:

Platform dependent.
The vendor client library needs to be installed on the client machine.

3. Network-Protocol driver:

Network-Protocol driver is a pure java driver which uses a middle-tier to converts JDBC calls directly or indirectly into database specific calls. Multiple types of databases can be accessed at the same time. It is a platform independent driver. It is also known as Type 3 or MiddleWare driver.

Advantages:

Platform independent.
Faster from Type1 and Type2 drivers.
It follows a three tier communication approach.
Multiple types of databases can be accessed at the same time.

Disadvantages:

It requires database-specific coding to be done in the middle tier.

4. Thin driver:

Thin driver is a pure java driver which converts JDBC calls directly into the database specific calls. It is a platform independent driver. It is also known as Type 4 or Database-Protocol driver.