ODBC
ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a standard application programming interface (API) for accessing database management systems (DBMS). It allows applications to connect to various databases using SQL queries, abstracting the underlying database-specific details. Developed by Microsoft, it provides a vendor-neutral way to interact with data sources like SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and others.
Developers should learn ODBC when building applications that need to interact with multiple database systems or legacy databases, as it offers cross-platform compatibility and reduces the need for database-specific code. It is particularly useful in enterprise environments where data integration across different DBMS is required, such as in reporting tools, data migration projects, or applications supporting diverse backends.