What is ODBC?
ODBC is a standardized API (Application Programming Interface). It is a
set of function calls based on the SQL Access Group (SAG) function set
for utilizing a SQL database system (back-end system). The SAG set
implements the basic functionality of Dynamic SQL. Embedded SQL commands
can be translated to call ODBC.
With ODBC, Microsoft extended the basic SAG function set to include
functions for accessing the database catalog and for controlling and
determining the capabilities of ODBC drivers and their data sources
(back-ends). They also have refined and fleshed out the SAG proposal.
Microsoft supplies the ODBC Driver Manager for their operating systems
(Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT). The ODBC Driver Manager coordinates
access to ODBC drivers and their associated data sources.
ODBC Architecture
Applications access ODBC functions through the ODBC Driver Manager which
dynamically links to the appropriate ODBC driver. ODBC drivers translate
ODBC requests to native format for a specific data source. The data
source may be a complete RDBMS like FirstSQL or it may be a simple file
format, like Xbase.
Most ODBC drivers are tied to a single data source. Some, like FirstSQL,
support multiple data sources. The FirstSQL ODBC driver supports both a
FirstSQL data source and an Xbase data source.
ODBC Utilization
ODBC provides a robust set of functions for access to a database. The
interface is complicated and takes time to learn to use well. It is
often layered with a higher level interface like Embedded SQL, C++
classes or Visual Basic controls. Another example of higher level
interfaces is Microsoft's OLE DB.
Though often accessed through higher level objects, ODBC provides the
appropriate power to utilize databases. It is the most widely supported
portable database interface available. But, a shadow has been cast over
The Future of ODBC by the actions of Microsoft.
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