java.sql
Interface Driver


public interface Driver

This interface specifies a mechanism for accessing a JDBC database driver. When the class implementing this method is loaded, it should register an instance of itself with the DriverManager in a static initializer.

Because the DriverManager might attempt to use several drivers to find one that can connect to the requested database, this driver should not cause large numbers of classes and code to be loaded. If another driver is the one that ends up performing the request, any loading done by this driver would be wasted.


Method Summary
 boolean acceptsURL(String url)
          This method tests whether or not the driver believes it can connect to the specified database.
 Connection connect(String url, Properties properties)
          This method connects to the specified database using the connection properties supplied.
 int getMajorVersion()
          This method returns the major version number of the driver.
 int getMinorVersion()
          This method returns the minor version number of the driver.
 DriverPropertyInfo[] getPropertyInfo(String url, Properties properties)
          This method returns an array of possible properties that could be used to connect to the specified database.
 boolean jdbcCompliant()
          This method tests whether or not the driver is JDBC compliant.
 

Method Detail

connect

Connection connect(String url,
                   Properties properties)
                   throws SQLException
This method connects to the specified database using the connection properties supplied. If the driver does not understand the database URL, it should return null instead of throwing an exception since the DriverManager will probe a driver in this manner.

Parameters:
url - The URL string for this connection.
properties - The list of database connection properties.
Returns:
A Connection object for the newly established connection, or null if the URL is not understood.
Throws:
SQLException - If an error occurs.

acceptsURL

boolean acceptsURL(String url)
                   throws SQLException
This method tests whether or not the driver believes it can connect to the specified database. The driver should only test whether it understands and accepts the URL. It should not necessarily attempt to probe the database for a connection.

Parameters:
url - The database URL string.
Returns:
true if the drivers can connect to the database, false otherwise.
Throws:
SQLException - If an error occurs.

getPropertyInfo

DriverPropertyInfo[] getPropertyInfo(String url,
                                     Properties properties)
                                     throws SQLException
This method returns an array of possible properties that could be used to connect to the specified database.

Parameters:
url - The URL string of the database to connect to.
properties - The list of properties the caller is planning to use to connect to the database.
Returns:
A list of possible additional properties for a connection to this database. This list may be empty.
Throws:
SQLException - If an error occurs.

getMajorVersion

int getMajorVersion()
This method returns the major version number of the driver.

Returns:
The major version number of the driver.

getMinorVersion

int getMinorVersion()
This method returns the minor version number of the driver.

Returns:
The minor version number of the driver.

jdbcCompliant

boolean jdbcCompliant()
This method tests whether or not the driver is JDBC compliant. This method should only return true if the driver has been certified as JDBC compliant.

Returns:
true if the driver has been certified JDBC compliant, false otherwise.