Connection string
Encyclopedia
In computing, a connection string is a string
that specifies information about a data source and the means of connecting to it. It is passed in code to an underlying driver or provider in order to initiate the connection. Whilst commonly used for a database connection
, the data source could also be a spreadsheet
or text file.
The connection string may include attributes such as the name of the driver, server
and database
, as well as security information such as user name and password.
Users of Oracle database
s can specify connection strings:
String (computer science)
In formal languages, which are used in mathematical logic and theoretical computer science, a string is a finite sequence of symbols that are chosen from a set or alphabet....
that specifies information about a data source and the means of connecting to it. It is passed in code to an underlying driver or provider in order to initiate the connection. Whilst commonly used for a database connection
Database connection
A database connection is a facility in computer science that allows client software to communicate with database server software, whether on the same machine or not. A connection is required to send commands and receive answers....
, the data source could also be a spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
or text file.
The connection string may include attributes such as the name of the driver, server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
and database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, as well as security information such as user name and password.
Examples
This example shows a Postgres connection string for connecting to wikipedia.com with SSL and a connection timeout of 180 seconds:
DRIVER={PostgreSQL Unicode};SERVER=www.wikipedia.com;SSL=true;SSLMode=require;DATABASE=wiki;UID=wikiuser;Connect Timeout=180;PWD=ashiknoor
Users of Oracle database
Oracle database
The Oracle Database is an object-relational database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation....
s can specify connection strings:
- on the command-line (as in:
sqlplus scott/tiger@connection_string) - via environment variableEnvironment variableEnvironment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.They can be said in some sense to create the operating environment in which a process runs...
s ($TWO_TASKin Unix-like environments;%LOCAL%in Microsoft Windows environments) - in local configuration fileConfiguration fileIn computing, configuration files, or config files configure the initial settings for some computer programs. They are used for user applications, server processes and operating system settings. The files are often written in ASCII and line-oriented, with lines terminated by a newline or carriage...
s (such as the default$ORACLE_HOME/network/admin.tnsnames.ora) - in LDAP-capable directory serviceDirectory serviceA directory service is the software system that stores, organizes and provides access to information in a directory. In software engineering, a directory is a map between names and values. It allows the lookup of values given a name, similar to a dictionary...
s