It is a type of API that allows access to different kinds of database systems by using SQL syntax common to all database engines. An application submits its data access request to ODBC via SQL and ODBC translates the request into whatever SQL “flavor” the database understands.
ODBC is based on the X/Open SQL Call Level Interface (CLI).
Java DataBase Connectivity (JDBC)
It is released in June, 1996, JDBC is a type of DBMS-independent API very similar to ODBC, but is intended for database access via requests from Java applets or applications. JDBC contains drivers for a variety of DBMSs. There is also a JDBC-ODBC Bridge which allows access to any database that is ODBC-compliant. JDBC is also based on SQL CLI and identifies ANSI SQL92 as its SQL common denominator. In order for a JDBC driver to be officially JDBC-compliant, it must support ANSI SQL92.