Java DatabaseMetaData: Complete Guide

DatabaseMetaData is an interface provided by Java for retrieving metadata information about the database. Metadata refers to data that describes other data, providing details about the structure of the database, tables, columns, indexes, and more.

The DatabaseMetaData interface can be used to obtain basic information about the database, such as the database name, version, driver name, driver version, and table metadata information like table name, column name, column data type, and whether a column is a primary key. This metadata information allows us to understand the structure of the database, making it easier to operate and manage the database.

Common methods of the DatabaseMetaData interface include:

1. Obtain the name of the database using getDatabaseProductName().
2. Retrieve the version number of the database.
3. Obtain the name of the driver for the database by using getDriverName().
4. Retrieve the version number of the database driver with getDriverVersion().
5. Retrieve metadata information of all tables in the database using getTables().
6. Obtain metadata information of all columns in the specified table with getColumns().
7. getPrimaryKeys(): Obtain metadata information for all primary keys in a specified table.

The DatabaseMetaData interface can be used to easily retrieve metadata information about a database, allowing for a better understanding of its structure and performing operations on the database.