? Loading JDBC Driver

? Quick Overview

Loading a JDBC driver is the first and most important step in connecting a Java application to a database. The driver acts as a bridge between Java code and the database engine.

? Key Concepts

JDBC Driver enables communication with databases
Driver must be loaded before creating a connection
Older JDBC versions required manual loading
Modern JDBC supports automatic driver loading

? Syntax / Theory

There are two main ways to load a JDBC driver:

Using Class.forName() (Traditional)
Automatic loading via JDBC 4.0+

? Code Example(s)

? View Code Example

// Loading JDBC driver using Class.forName()
Class.forName("com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver");

? View Code Example

// Creating a database connection after driver loading
Connection con = DriverManager.getConnection(
"jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/testdb",
"root",
"password"
);

?️ Live Output / Explanation

Explanation

When Class.forName() is executed, the JVM loads the driver class into memory. The driver then registers itself with DriverManager. After this, Java can establish a connection to the database.

✅ Tips & Best Practices

Use JDBC 4.0+ drivers to avoid manual loading
Always include the correct JDBC driver JAR
Handle ClassNotFoundException properly
Close database resources after use

? Try It Yourself

Load a PostgreSQL JDBC driver
Test connection with a different database
Remove Class.forName() and observe behavior