ODBC explained

 You hear it all the time. Go to control panel, admin tools and odbc. Once in there, add a new database source so you can relate to a database sitting on a nearby computer. But what does ODBC mean?

ODBC (short for Open Database Connectivity) is a standard database application which uses SQL as its main query language. ODBC also offers a little API which allows programmers to make their application independent from having to use a Databank management system (DBMS) during the development stage(however, it's still necessary that they have the right version of the ODBC driver installed).

With ODBC it is also possible to access details of the database (credentials) such as the name of the database servers, port to access the network , the users' name and their password as well as other minor details of the targeted user. By employing the user's name a client application can establish a connection with the data source without having to know other details.

ODBC was originally used by Microsoft as the basis for the development of the Call Level Interface of X/Open and ISO/IEC, although this endeavour had also been undertaken by other software manufacturing companies. ODBC has also become a standard application in other areas.

ODBC-driver's diverse features:

- Core ( its basic functionality)

 -Level 1

- Level 2

Latter day programming environments allow access to it through access from very different management systems on prefabricated data sensitive controls. Access to data never ensues immediately from a table or database, but rather from the matching ODBC component. Through ODBC any local or remote data source can also be accessed.

For object-oriented programming languages (e.g.:C++, Java) in which classes are available, methods define the handling of different database systems' data. The programmer doesn't need to be concerned about the details specific to a particular database.

In Microsoft Foundation Classes the ODBC support is implemented through the classes CDDatabase, CRecordset, CRecordView, CFieldExchange and CDBExceptio.

Note: DAO (Data Access Objects) is also opmitised for Microsoft Jet Database Module which allows for indirect access to ODBC.

Since the inception of Windows 2000 ODBC has become part of the MDAC operating system. For earlier Windows versions the application can be later installed onto the system with no accompanying cost. Microsoft announced that the 2012 versions for their SQL servers will come with the then latest version of OLE-DB Provider, recommended for use with ODBC-Provider.