---
url: /technical/datasources-jdbc.md
description: >-
  A JDBC driver (Java Database Connectivity driver) is a small piece of software
  that allows MODLR to connect to different databases.
---

# What is a JDBC Driver?

A JDBC driver (Java Database Connectivity driver) is a small piece of software that allows MODLR to connect to different databases.

Essentially, a JDBC driver makes it possible to do three things:

1. Establish a connection with a data source.
2. Send queries and update statements to the data source.
3. Process the results.

# Adding a new JDBC Driver

To setup a new driver you will need three components

1. The `*driver*.jar` file from the database provider.
2. The class name for the JDBC
3. A database connection URI

The above three components are documented / linked below this section for commonly used databases.

## Setup Instructions

![The Manage Datasources page, annotated to show New Datasource, Manage Drivers, and the two datasources every instance ships with](/datasource-home.png)

From the `Manage Datasources` page click on the `Manage Drivers` button.

![Manage Drivers Page](/datasource-manage-drivers.png)

Click `New Driver` to open the form for uploading a driver.

![Manage Drivers Form](/datasource-manage-drivers-add.png)

Add the class name and the driver file, then upload it.

![Manage Drivers Form](/datasource-manage-drivers-add-success.png)

The new driver should be listed on the `Manage Drivers` page. You can now add a new Datasource using this driver.

![The Manage Drivers page, annotated to show the uploaded driver now listed and the New Driver button](/datasource-manage-drivers-two.png)