What is the purpose of hibernation?

Hibernate is an open-source object/relational mapping (ORM) framework that offers a mechanism for mapping Java objects to database tables. Its main function includes:

1. Simplify database operations: Hibernate allows developers to define the mapping between entity classes and database tables in configuration files, reducing the need to write extensive SQL queries. Instead, database operations can be performed by manipulating Java objects.
2. Improving development efficiency: Hibernate offers advanced query features such as object navigation and Hibernate Query Language (HQL), allowing developers to easily perform complex database queries and enhance development efficiency.
3. Database independence: Hibernate is able to hide the differences in underlying databases, allowing developers to switch between different types of databases without changing any code, providing better database independence.
4. Cache management: Hibernate provides first-level and second-level cache mechanisms to effectively reduce the number of database accesses and improve system performance.
5. Transaction management: Hibernate offers mechanisms for managing transactions, ensuring consistency and integrity of database operations, while also supporting distributed transactions.

In short, Hibernate simplifies database operations, increases development efficiency, provides database independence, cache management, and transaction management, allowing developers to perform database operations more conveniently, and improves system performance and development efficiency.