OLE DB is the next generation of data access technology. Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 takes advantage of OLE DB within the components of SQL Server itself. Additionally, application developers should consider OLE DB for new development with SQL Server 7.0. Microsoft includes an OLE DB provider for Oracle 7.3 with SQL Server 7.0.
OLE DB is Microsoft’s strategic system-level programming interface to manage data across the organization. OLE DB is an open specification designed to build on the features of ODBC. ODBC was created to access relational databases, and OLE DB is designed to access relational and nonrelational information sources, such as mainframe ISAM/VSAM and hierarchical databases, e-mail and file system stores, text, graphical and geographical data, and custom business objects.
OLE DB defines a collection of COM interfaces that encapsulate various database management system services and allows the creation of software components that implement such services. OLE DB components consist of data providers (that contain and expose data), data consumers (that use data), and service components (that process and transport data, for example, query processors and cursor engines).
OLE DB interfaces are designed to help components integrate smoothly so that OLE DB component vendors can bring high quality OLE DB components to the market quickly. In addition, OLE DB includes a bridge to ODBC to allow continued support for the broad range of ODBC relational database drivers available today.