Since data is the new crude oil, data security has become one of the utmost essential requirements in the current tech-driven world.

Traditional relational database management systems like Microsoft SQL Server provide enterprises with high-level encryption and security protocols to protect their users’ and applications’ data.

For highly secure automated data access and transaction processing, enterprises can use Microsoft SQL Server with Java, a well-known software language used primarily for computing.

The approach of Java connect to Microsoft SQL Server databases is highly compatible and widely used to build highly secure applications.

In this article, you will learn about how to use the JDBC driver for Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server database correctly.

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge on Integration
Scale your SQL Server Integration Effortlessly with Hevo

Hevo is the real-time ELT No-code Data Pipeline platform that cost-effectively automates data pipelines that are flexible to your needs. It can integrate data from 150+ sources including Microsoft SQL Server.

Check out how Hevo can help:

  • It completely automates the data ingestion and transformation process for you.
  • It strictly follows security policies to safeguard your data.
  • No specialized technical knowledge is required to integrate data.

Give Hevo a try and simplify your data integration without the hassle of complex Java code! 

Also, learn more about Hevo by checking our reviews on Capterra and make a wise choice for yourself.

Start SQL Server Integration For Free

Connecting Java to Microsoft SQL Server

Java is an adaptable programming language for creating complex interactive applications and games.

Since it is highly secure, many enterprises use Java in the form of JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) to connect databases and servers with web applications.

JDBC is a call-level API that uses standard SQL statements and passes them as strings to API for performing operations on relational database management systems (RDMS).

Connecting Java to Microsoft SQL Server helps automate access to the databases where you can directly handle data and work on them in an automated script.

You can use this connection to verify results, delete data, and even update specific data according to your requirements. 

Follow the instructions below to connect Java and the Microsoft SQL Server database properly:

Step 1: Download Microsoft JDBC Driver

To start with Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server, you must have an appropriate JDBC driver in the existing classpath. Follow the instructions to download the driver for SQL server connection correctly:

  • Go to the Microsoft JDBC Driver for SQL Server page.
  • Extract the archive files
  • Insert mssql-jdbc-8.2.0.jreVERSION.jar to the classpath of your project
  • Via Maven, declare the below dependencies:
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.microsoft.sqlserver</groupId>
    <artifactId>mssql-jdbc</artifactId>
    <version>8.2.1.jre11</version>
</dependency>
#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server
  • This code snippet adds a dependency for connecting to a Microsoft SQL Server database using Java.
  • The <groupId> specifies the organization providing the library, in this case, com.microsoft.sqlserver.
  • <artifactId> defines the specific library, mssql-jdbc, which is the SQL Server JDBC driver.
  • <version> indicates the version of the JDBC driver being used, here 8.2.1.jre11, compatible with Java 11.
  • Adding this dependency allows Java applications to interact with SQL Server databases through JDBC.

Step 2: JDBC URL for Microsoft SQL Server

The syntax for database URL for Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server is:

#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server

jdbc:sqlserver://[serverName[\instanceName][:portNumber]][;property=value[;property=value]]

#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server
  • This line is a JDBC connection string used to connect a Java application to a Microsoft SQL Server database.
  • jdbc:sqlserver:// specifies that the connection uses the SQL Server JDBC driver.
  • [serverName[\instanceName][:portNumber]] includes the server name, optional instance name, and port number for the SQL Server.
  • [;property=value[;property=value]] allows additional properties, like database name or authentication details, to be added to the connection.
  • This format helps Java applications establish a structured connection to SQL Server.

Where,

  • serverName: name of the host or IP address of the device where SQL Server is currently running.
  • instanceName: instance name to connect the server.
  • portNumber: port number of server, the default value is 1433.
  • property=value: you can include one or more connection properties.

Step 3: Register drive and specify connection

  • Register the JDBC driver using this statement,
#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server

DriverManager.registerDriver(new com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver());

#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server
  • Call the method getConnection() from the driver manager class.
  • Pass the username and password to the method.
  • To store the connection properties, use a java.util.Properties object.
  • For authentication mode, ensure that the integrated security is true and you have included sqljdbc_auth.dll in the classpath.

Step 4: Executing SQL Commands

  • Use the createStatement() method to make a variable st.
  • Build a string that includes the SQL command you want to execute. 
  • Use the variable with the executeQuery and pass the string as a parameter.
#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server

Statement st = conn.createStatement();
String Sql = “select * from [tableName] where <condition>”; 
ResultSet rs = st.executeQuery(Sql);

#Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server
  • Statement st = conn.createStatement(); creates a SQL statement object to send SQL commands to the database.
  • String Sql = "select * from [tableName] where <condition>"; defines a SQL query to select records from a specified table with a certain condition.
  • ResultSet rs = st.executeQuery(Sql); runs the query and stores the results in a ResultSet object, rs.
  • The ResultSet allows Java to access and process each row of data returned by the SQL query.
  • This code is a common approach in Java for querying data from a SQL Server database.

Limitations of Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server

In Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server, you might encounter a version incompatibility issue. For instance, when you use Java 8 to execute your program with Microsoft JDBC drive for Java 11 and higher.

The SQL Server drive for Java 11 cannot be loaded by Java 8. You will either have to download the Java 8 version driver or upgrade your Java software to the 11 version for the proper execution.

Conclusion

In this article, you learned about Java, the Microsoft SQL Server database, and how to get started with Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server with the assistance of the JDBC Microsoft driver.

While Java is a programming language for desktop computing, games, numerical computing, etc., Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system that assists enterprises in performing secure transactions, executing analytics tasks, and storing data.

By connecting Java with Microsoft SQL Server, companies can enhance the protection of their applications’ data as both these technologies provide high-security measures.

It is critical to consolidate data collected and managed across multiple applications and databases in your business for complete business performance analysis. This is simple to do with a Cloud-based ETL tool like Hevo.

Visit our Website to Explore Hevo

Hevo Data will automate your data transfer process, hence allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business like Analytics, Customer Management, etc. Hevo provides a wide range of sources – 150+ Data Sources (including 40+ Free Sources) – that connect with over 15+ Destinations and load them into a destination to analyze real-time data at transparent pricing and make Data Replication hassle-free.

All of this combined with transparent Hevo Pricing and 24×7 support makes us the most loved data pipeline software on review sites.

Want to take Hevo for a ride? Sign Up for a 14-day free trial and simplify your Data Integration process. Do check out the pricing details to understand which plan fulfills all your business needs.

Share your thoughts on Java Connect to Microsoft SQL Server in the comments section below.

Vidhi Shah
Technical Content Writer, Hevo Data

Vidhi is a data science enthusiast with two years of experience in the field. She specializes in writing about data, software architecture, and integration, leveraging her profound understanding of these domains to create insightful and tailored content. She stays updated with the latest industry trends and technologies, ensuring her content remains relevant and valuable for her audience. Through her work, she aims to empower data professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving landscape.

No-code Automated Data Pipeline for SQL Server