ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)

ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a standard software interface that allows different applications to communicate with various database systems uniformly. Think of it as a translator that enables diverse programs to access and manipulate data stored in databases like SQL Server, MySQL, or Oracle without needing to understand their specific languages. This standardization simplifies data integration, making it easier for different software components to work together and share information efficiently, regardless of the database system in use.