JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) is the core thing to learn in order to understand database connectivity in Java even though you are only using O/R mapping tool like most of us do. While O/R mapping tool might make us more productive and leave out the JDBC detail entirely, it is always good to get yourself familiar with JDBC, which the O/R mapping tools based on top of.
Article
JDBC drivers in the wild over at JavaWorld gives us an insightful explanation of the details of JDBC drivers, and the article written by jeevan, named
JDBC Revisited offers the basic concepts of drivers, connection, datasource, statement and resultset.
Last but not least, keep the API (
java.sql and
javax.sql) with you.
