===== Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)  =====
[[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.b_stds:defact| return to the de Facto Standards  ]]

  : **Note:** The following is an excerpt from the official Microsoft Open [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:d:database]] Connectivity site. It is provided here as a convenience and is not authoritative. Refer to the original document as the authoritative reference.


<table>
<caption>Data sheet for Microsoft Open Database Connectivity</caption>
| Title                      | Microsoft Open Database Connectivity |
| Acronym                    | ODBC |
| Version                    | 3.8  |
| Operating Systems          |        |
| Downloads                  | [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/download-odbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15]] |
| NOTE                       | Each DBMS supplies its own download of an ODBC Driver that is specific to the DBMS. |
| Supported Languages        |         |
| License                    | Microsoft Developer Services Agreement |
| Reference                  | [[https://cdn.simba.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/ODBC_specification.pdf]] |
</table>

==== Introduction ====
// [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:o:odbc]] is a widely accepted [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:a:api]] for database access. It is based on the Call-Level Interface (CLI) specifications from Open Group and ISO/IEC for database APIs and uses [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:s:sql]] as its database access language.//

//ODBC is designed for maximum [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:i:interoperability|interoperability ]]- that is, the ability of a single [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:a:application|application]] to access different database management systems (DBMSs) with the same [[dido:public:ra:xapend:xapend.a_glossary:s:sourcecode|source code]]. Database applications call functions in the ODBC interface, which are implemented in database-specific modules called drivers. The use of drivers isolates applications from database-specific calls in the same way that printer drivers isolate word processing programs from printer-specific commands. Because drivers are loaded at run time, a user only has to add a new driver to access a new DBMS; it is not necessary to recompile or relink the application.//

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