Components of a database interface connection

When you use a native database interface to access a database, your connection goes through several layers before reaching the data. Each layer is a separate component of the connection and each component might come from a different vendor.

Figure 6-1: Components of a database connection

The figure shows the components of a database connection when a native database interface is used. At top is the Development environment, which is supplied by Sybase. It is connected by an arrow to a Database interface D L L or shared library supplied by Sybase. These in turn are connected to Database client software supplied by the database vendor. The client software connects to any supported network protocol supplied by a network or database vendor. The network protocol connects through Gateway software supplied by a gateway vendor, if applicable, and finally to the database, which is supplied by the database vendor.

For diagrams showing the specific components of your connection, see “Basic software components” in the chapter for your native database interface.