Open Database Connectivity ODBC

1
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

• MIS433, Section A
• Eric Eilers
• Elizabeth Shay
• Denys Yakhnenko

2
The Old Way

• Before the introduction of ODBC, important
  information might only be accessible through one
  application designed to work with the DBMS
  storing the data.
• Disadvantages
• Application dependence
• Valuable database information was limited to
  specific applications
• Useful applications that could be used for many
  databases were limited to a specific database

3
The New Way - ODBC

• a standard database access method developed by
  Microsoft Corporation. The goal of ODBC is to
  make it possible to access any data from any
  application, regardless of which database
  management system (DBMS) is handling the data.
  ODBC manages this by inserting a middle layer,
  called a database driver, between an application
  and the DBMS. The purpose of this layer is to
  translate the application's data queries into
  commands that the DBMS understands. For this to
  work, both the application and the DBMS must be
  ODBC-compliant -- that is, the application must
  be capable of issuing ODBC commands and the DBMS
  must be capable of responding to them. Since
  version 2.0, the standard supports SAG SQL.
• http//webopedia.internet.com/TERM/O/ODBC.html
• New version 3.0 has since been released

4
What does that mean?

• The translated webopedia definition
• ODBC is middleware
• A programmer writes an application that needs to
  use data in a DBMS. The type of DBMS is unknown
  or can change
• ODBC determines the type of DBMS and loads the
  needed driver to communicate with that database

5
How it Works

• The driver translates the applications data
  queries into commands the DMBS can understand
• Both the application and DBMS must be ODBC
  compliant

6
Pictorial View
Client Application
ODBC
DBMS
7
Advantages of ODBC

• Application independence the program does not
  need to be written in a specific format to
  communicate with a specific database
• Useful for companies with many different types of
  databases that need to be accessed by a single
  application

8
Disadvantages of ODBC

• Application Dependence happens when there is a
  database specific call (such as passing SQL
  directly to the database or invoking a number of
  stored procedures and triggers) dmreview.com
• Not an open system. Drivers must be purchased.

9
Questions

• What does ODBC stand for?
• What is one advantage of ODBC?
• What is one disadvantage of ODBC?

10
Sources

• http//www.dmreview.com/master.cfm?NavID198EdID
  1560
• http//www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/ODBC.html
• http//www.biblioscape.com/odbc_driver.htm