Demonstration of JDBC Driver Types – Choosing the Best Driver for IKS Databases

Demonstration of JDBC Driver Types

JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) provides four main types of drivers that allow Java programs to connect to various databases. When working with Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), selecting the right driver type ensures efficient and reliable access to heritage data, whether it’s stored in MySQL, Oracle, or cloud-based platforms.

JDBC Driver Types

1. Type 1 – JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver: Uses ODBC drivers to connect to the database. Simple but outdated and slow.
2. Type 2 – Native-API Driver: Uses database-specific native libraries. Faster than Type 1 but platform-dependent.
3. Type 3 – Network Protocol Driver: Connects through a middleware server that translates requests to database protocols.
4. Type 4 – Thin Driver: Pure Java driver that communicates directly with the database over TCP/IP. Most commonly used for modern applications.

Example: Loading and Using a Type 4 Driver

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;

public class IKSDriverDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String url = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/iks_db";
        String user = "root";
        String password = "your_password";

        try {
            // Load Type 4 MySQL driver
            Class.forName("com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver");

            // Connect to IKS database
            Connection con = DriverManager.getConnection(url, user, password);
            System.out.println("Connected using Type 4 Driver!");

            con.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

✅ Tip: For most IKS applications that use MySQL, the Type 4 Thin Driver is preferred due to its platform independence and ease of deployment.