Open DataBase Connectivity
ODBC

    (ODBC) A standard for accessing
   different database systems.  There are interfaces for
   Visual Basic, Visual C++, SQL and the ODBC driver pack
   contains drivers for the Access, Paradox, dBase, Text,
   Excel and Btrieve databases.

   An application can submit statements to ODBC using the ODBC
   flavor of SQL.  ODBC then translates these to whatever flavor
   the database understands.

   ODBC 1.0 was released in September 1992.

   ODBC is based on Call-Level Interface and was defined by the
   SQL Access Group.  Microsoft was one member of the group
   and was the first company to release a commercial product
   based on its work (under Microsoft Windows) but ODBC is not
   a Microsoft standard (as many people believe).

   ODBC drivers and development tools are available now for
   Microsoft Windows, Unix, OS/2, and Macintosh.

   [On-line document?]

   ["Unix Review", Aug 1995].

   (1996-05-27)