Interview Questions and Answers

Ques 1. What is JDBC? Describe the steps needed to execute a SQL query using JDBC.

We can connect to databases from java using JDBC. It stands for Java DataBase Connectivity.

Ques 2. How many different types of JDBC drivers are present? Discuss them.

There are four JDBC driver types.
Type 1: JDBC-ODBC Bridge plus ODBC Driver:
The first type of JDBC driver is the JDBC-ODBC Bridge. It is a driver that provides JDBC access to databases through ODBC drivers. The ODBC driver must be configured on the client for the bridge to work. This driver type is commonly used for prototyping or when there is no JDBC driver available for a particular DBMS.
Type 2: Native-API partly-Java Driver:
The Native to API driver converts JDBC commands to DBMS-specific native calls. This is much like the restriction of Type 1 drivers. The client must have some binary code loaded on its machine. These drivers do have an advantage over Type 1 d'rivers because they interface directly with the database.
Type 3: JDBC-Net Pure Java Driver:
The JDBC-Net drivers are a three-tier solution. This type of driver translates JDBC calls into a database-independent network protocol that is sent to a middleware server. This server then translates this DBMS-independent protocol into a DBMS-specific protocol, which is sent to a particular database. The results are then routed back through the middleware server and sent back to the client. This type of solution makes it possible to implement a pure Java client. It also makes it possible to swap databases without affecting the client.
Type 4: Native-Protocol Pure Java Driver:
These are pure Java drivers that communicate directly with the vendor's database. They do this by converting JDBC commands directly into the database engine's native protocol. This driver has no additional translation or middleware layer, which improves performance tremendously.
What does the "static" keyword mean in front of a variable or a method or a class?

Ques 3. What are the different driver types available in JDBC?

1. A JDBC-ODBC bridge
2. A native-API partly Java technology-enabled driver
3. A net-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver
4. A native-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver

Ques 4. How can you load the drivers?

Loading the driver or drivers you want to use is very simple and involves just one line of code. If, for example, you want to use the JDBC-ODBC Bridge driver, the following code will load it:
Class.forName("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");

Your driver documentation will give you the class name to use. For instance, if the class name is jdbc.DriverXYZ, you would load the driver with the following line of code:
Class.forName("jdbc.DriverXYZ");

Ques 5. What will Class.forName do while loading drivers?

It is used to create an instance of a driver and register it with the DriverManager. When you have loaded a driver, it is available for making a connection with a DBMS.

Ques 6. How can you make the connection?

To establish a connection you need to have the appropriate driver connect to the DBMS.

String url = "jdbc:odbc:WithoutBook";

Connection con = DriverManager.getConnection(url, "Username", "Password");

Ques 7. How can you create JDBC statements and what are they?

A Statement object is what sends your SQL statement to the DBMS. You simply create a Statement object and then execute it, supplying the appropriate execute method with the SQL statement you want to send.

Statement stmt = con.createStatement();

Ques 8. How can you retrieve data from the ResultSet?

JDBC returns results in a ResultSet object, so we need to declare an instance of the class ResultSet to hold our results. The following code demonstrates declaring the ResultSet object:
ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT NAME,SAL FROM EMPLOYEE");
String s = rs.getString("NAME");
The method getString is invoked on the ResultSet object (rs), so getString() will retrieve (get) the value stored in the column NAME in the current row of rs. Note: rs is ResultSet variable name here.

Ques 9. What are the different types of Statements?

• Regular statement (use createStatement method)
• prepared statement (use prepareStatement method)
• callable statement (use prepareCall)

Ques 10. How can you use PreparedStatement?

This special type of statement is derived from class Statement. If you need a Statement object to execute many times, it will normally make sense to use a PreparedStatement object instead. 

Ques 11. What does setAutoCommit do?

When a connection is created, it is in auto-commit mode. This means that each individual SQL statement is treated as a transaction and will be automatically committed right after it is executed. The way to allow two or more statements to be grouped into a transaction is to disable auto-commit mode:
con.setAutoCommit(false);

Once auto-commit mode is disabled, no SQL statements will be committed until you call the method commit explicitly.

con.setAutoCommit(false);
PreparedStatement updateSales =
con.prepareStatement( "UPDATE EMPLOYEE SET SAL = ? WHERE EMP_NAME LIKE ?");
updateSales.setInt(1, 50000); updateSales.setString(2, "Arindam");
updateSales.executeUpdate();
PreparedStatement updateTotal =
con.prepareStatement("UPDATE EMPLOYEE SET TOTAL = TOTAL + ? WHERE EMP_NAME LIKE ?");
updateTotal.setInt(1, 50000);
updateTotal.setString(2, "Arindam");
updateTotal.executeUpdate();
con.commit();
con.setAutoCommit(true);

Ques 12. How do you call a stored procedure from JDBC?

The first step is to create a CallableStatement object. As with Statement an and PreparedStatement objects, this is done with an open
Connection object. A CallableStatement object contains a call to a stored procedure.
CallableStatement cs = con.prepareCall("{call SHOW_EMPLOYEES}");
ResultSet rs = cs.executeQuery();

Ques 13. What are the steps involved in establishing a JDBC connection?

involves two steps: loading the JDBC driver and making the connection.

Ques 14. What is JDBC Driver?

The JDBC Driver provides vendor-specific implementations of the abstract classes provided by the JDBC API. This driver is used to connect to the database.

Ques 15. What are the different JDB drivers available?

There are mainly four type of JDBC drivers available. They are:

Type 1 : JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver - A JDBC-ODBC bridge provides JDBC API access via one or more ODBC drivers. Note that some ODBC native code and in many cases native database client code must be loaded on each client machine that uses this type of driver. Hence, this kind of driver is generally most appropriate when automatic installation and downloading of a Java technology application is not important. For information on the JDBC-ODBC bridge driver provided by Sun.

Type 2: Native API Partly Java Driver- A native-API partly Java technology-enabled driver converts JDBC calls into calls on the client API for Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, or other DBMS. Note that, like the bridge driver, this style of driver requires that some binary code be loaded on each client machine.

Type 3: Network protocol Driver- A net-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver translates JDBC API calls into a DBMS-independent net protocol which is then translated to a DBMS protocol by a server. This net server middleware is able to connect all of its Java technology-based clients to many different databases. The specific protocol used depends on the vendor. In general, this is the most flexible JDBC API alternative. It is likely that all vendors of this solution will provide products suitable for Intranet use. In order for these products to also support Internet access they must handle the additional requirements for security, access through firewalls, etc., that the Web imposes. Several vendors are adding JDBC technology-based drivers to their existing database middleware products.

Type 4: JDBC Net pure Java Driver - A native-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver converts JDBC technology calls into the network protocol used by DBMSs directly. This allows a direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server and is a practical solution for Intranet access. Since many of these protocols are proprietary the database vendors themselves will be the primary source for this style of driver. Several database vendors have these in progress.

Ques 16. What are the different JDB drivers available?

There are mainly four type of JDBC drivers available. They are:

Type 1 : JDBC-ODBC Bridge Driver - A JDBC-ODBC bridge provides JDBC API access via one or more ODBC drivers. Note that some ODBC native code and in many cases native database client code must be loaded on each client machine that uses this type of driver. Hence, this kind of driver is generally most appropriate when automatic installation and downloading of a Java technology application is not important. For information on the JDBC-ODBC bridge driver provided by Sun.

Type 2: Native API Partly Java Driver- A native-API partly Java technology-enabled driver converts JDBC calls into calls on the client API for Oracle, Sybase, Informix, DB2, or other DBMS. Note that, like the bridge driver, this style of driver requires that some binary code be loaded on each client machine.

Type 3: Network protocol Driver- A net-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver translates JDBC API calls into a DBMS-independent net protocol which is then translated to a DBMS protocol by a server. This net server middleware is able to connect all of its Java technology-based clients to many different databases. The specific protocol used depends on the vendor. In general, this is the most flexible JDBC API alternative. It is likely that all vendors of this solution will provide products suitable for Intranet use. In order for these products to also support Internet access they must handle the additional requirements for security, access through firewalls, etc., that the Web imposes. Several vendors are adding JDBC technology-based drivers to their existing database middleware products.

Type 4: JDBC Net pure Java Driver - A native-protocol fully Java technology-enabled driver converts JDBC technology calls into the network protocol used by DBMSs directly. This allows a direct call from the client machine to the DBMS server and is a practical solution for Intranet access. Since many of these protocols are proprietary the database vendors themselves will be the primary source for this style of driver. Several database vendors have these in progress.

Ques 17. What is the fastest type of JDBC driver?

Type 4 (JDBC Net pure Java Driver) is the fastest JDBC driver. Type 1 and Type 3 drivers will be slower than Type 2 drivers (the database calls are make at least three translations versus two), and Type 4 drivers are the fastest (only one translation).

Ques 18. Is the JDBC-ODBC Bridge multi-threaded?

No. The JDBC-ODBC Bridge does not support multi threading. The JDBC-ODBC Bridge uses synchronized methods to serialize all of the calls that it makes to ODBC. Multi-threaded Java programs may use the Bridge, but they won't get the advantages of multi-threading.

Ques 19. How do you handle your own transaction?

Connection Object has a method called setAutocommit ( boolean flag) . For handling our own transaction we can set the parameter to false and begin your transaction . Finally commit the transaction by calling the commit method.

Ques 20. What is Connection pooling?

Connection pooling is a technique used for sharing server resources among requesting clients. Connection pooling increases the performance of Web applications by reusing active database connections instead of creating a new connection with every request. Connection pool manager maintains a pool of open database connections.

Ques 21. Is JDBC-ODBC bridge multi-threaded?

No

Ques 22. Does the JDBC-ODBC Bridge support multiple concurrent open statements per connection?

No

Ques 23. How can you move the cursor in scrollable result sets?

One of the new features in the JDBC 2.0 API is the ability to move a result set�s cursor backward as well as forward. There are also methods that let you move the cursor to a particular row and check the position of the cursor.
Statement stmt = con.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY);
ResultSet srs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT EMP_NAME, SAL FROM EMPLOYEE");

The first argument is one of three constants added to the ResultSet API to indicate the type of a ResultSet object: TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY, TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE , and TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE. The second argument is one of two ResultSet constants for specifying whether a result set is read-only or updatable: CONCUR_READ_ONLY and CONCUR_UPDATABLE. The point to remember here is that if you specify a type, you must also specify whether it is read-only or updatable. Also, you must specify the type first, and because both parameters are of type int , the compiler will not complain if you switch the order. Specifying the constant TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY creates a nonscrollable result set, that is, one in which the cursor moves only forward. If you do not specify any constants for the type and updatability of a ResultSet object, you will automatically get one that is TYPE_FORWARD_ONLY and CONCUR_READ_ONLY.

Ques 24. What�s the difference between TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE , and TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE?

You will get a scrollable ResultSet object if you specify one of these ResultSet constants.The difference between the two has to do with whether a result set reflects changes that are made to it while it is open and whether certain methods can be called to detect these changes. Generally speaking, a result set that is TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE does not reflect changes made while it is still open and one that is TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE does. All three types of result sets will make changes visible if they are closed and then reopened:
Statement stmt =
con.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_INSENSITIVE, ResultSet.CONCUR_READ_ONLY);
ResultSet srs =
stmt.executeQuery("SELECT EMP_NAME, SAL FROM EMPLOYEE");
srs.afterLast();
while (srs.previous())
{
String name = srs.getString("EMP_NAME");
float sal = srs.getFloat("SAL");
System.out.println(name + " " + sal);
}

Ques 25. How to Make Updates to Updatable Result Sets?

Another new feature in the JDBC 2.0 API is the ability to update rows in a result set using methods in the Java programming language rather than having to send an SQL command. But before you can take advantage of this capability, you need to create a ResultSet object that is updatable. In order to do this, you supply the ResultSet constant CONCUR_UPDATABLE to the createStatement method.
Connection con =
DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mySubprotocol:mySubName");
Statement stmt =
con.createStatement(ResultSet.TYPE_SCROLL_SENSITIVE, ResultSet.CONCUR_UPDATABLE);
ResultSet uprs =
stmt.executeQuery("SELECT EMP_NAME, SAL FROM EMPLOYEE");

Ques 26. How do I retrieve warnings?

SQLWarning objects are a subclass of SQLException that deal with database access warnings. Warnings do not stop the execution of an
application, as exceptions do; they simply alert the user that something did not happen as planned. A warning can be reported on a
Connection object, a Statement object (including PreparedStatement and CallableStatement objects), or a ResultSet object. Each of these
classes has a getWarnings method, which you must invoke in order to see the first warning reported on the calling object:
SQLWarning warning = stmt.getWarnings();
if (warning != null)
{
System.out.println("n---Warning---n");
while (warning != null)
{
System.out.println("Message: " + warning.getMessage());
System.out.println("SQLState: " + warning.getSQLState());
System.out.print("Vendor error code: ");
System.out.println(warning.getErrorCode());
System.out.println("");
warning = warning.getNextWarning();
}
}

Ques 27. What is the advantage of denormalization?

Data denormalization is reverse procedure, carried out purely for reasons of improving performance. It maybe efficient for a high-throughput system to replicate data for certain data.