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MySQL AB provides several application programming interfaces (APIs) for accessing the MySQL server. The interface included with distributions of MySQL itself is libmysqlclient, the C client library. This API may be used for writing MySQL-based C programs. It is also the basis for most higher-level APIs written for other languages (the Java and .NET interfaces are notable exceptions).

MySQL AB also provides drivers that aren't programs in themselves, but act as bridges to the MySQL server for client programs that communicate using a particular protocol. These drivers comprise the family of MySQL Connectors. They are available as separate packages.

• MySQL Connector/ODBC provides a MySQL-specific driver for ODBC. It allows ODBC-compliant programs to access MySQL..
• MySQL Connector/J is a JDBC driver for use in Java programs. It allows JDBC-compliant programs to access MySQL.
• MySQL Connector/NET is a driver written in C# that supports the ADO.NET interfaces required to run .NET applications that access MySQL.

The MySQL connectors are available for Windows and Unix. To use a connector, you must install it on the client host. It isn't necessary for the server to be running on the same machine or for the server to be running the same operating system as the client. This means that MySQL connectors are very useful for providing MySQL connectivity in heterogeneous environments. For example, people who use Windows machines can run client applications that access MySQL databases located on a Linux server host.

Each of the preceding APIs is officially supported by MySQL AB. In addition, many third-party client interfaces are available. Most of them are based on the C client library and provide a binding for some other language. These include the mysql and mysqli extensions for PHP, the DBD::mysql driver for the Perl DBI module, and interfaces for other languages such as Python, Ruby, Pascal, and Tcl. Although you can download these client APIs from the MySQL Web site and members of the MySQL AB development team often work closely with the developers of these products, the APIs do not receive official support from MySQL AB.

MySQL Connector/ODBC

MySQL Connector/ODBC acts as a bridge between the MySQL server and client programs that use the ODBC standard. It provides a MySQL-specific driver for ODBC so that ODBC-based clients can access MySQL databases.

MySQL Connector/ODBC uses the C client library to implement the client/server communication protocol. It converts ODBC calls made by the client program into C API operations that communicate with the server. Connections can be established using TCP/IP, Unix socket files, or named pipes.

MySQL Connector/ODBC is available for Windows and Unix.

MySQL Connector/J

MySQL Connector/J is similar in spirit to Connector/ODBC, but is used by JDBC-based Java programs. It is not based on the C client library. Instead, it is written in Java and implements the client/server communication protocol directly. Connections can be established using TCP/IP or named pipes. MySQL Connector/J converts JDBC calls made by the client program into the appropriate protocol operations.

MySQL Connector/J is a Type 4 (pure Java) driver that implements version 3.0 of the JDBC specification.

MySQL Connector/J includes support for MySQL capabilities such as server-side prepared statements, stored routines, and Unicode.

MySQL Connector/J is available for Windows and Unix.

MySQL Connector/NET

MySQL Connector/NET enables .NET applications to use MySQL. It is not based on the C client library. Instead, it is written in C# and implements the client/server communication protocol directly. Connections can be established using TCP/IP, Unix socket files, named pipes, or shared memory.

MySQL Connector/NET includes support for MySQL capabilities such as server-side prepared statements, stored routines, and Unicode.

MySQL Connector/NET is available for Windows. If you use Mono, the Open Source implementation of .NET developed by Novell, it is also available on Linux.