OLE DB
OLE DB (Object Linking and Embedding, Database) is a set of COM-based interfaces developed by Microsoft to provide high-performance, universal data access to diverse data sources, beyond just traditional relational databases. It abstracts the complexities of data access, enabling applications to…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1996
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- OLE DB was created to solve the problem of fragmented and proprietary data access, aiming to provide a single, universal interface for accessing heterogeneous data sources, not just relational databases. Before OLE DB, developers faced a multitude of APIs for different data types (e.g., ODBC for relational, specific APIs for spreadsheets, mail, or custom files), leading to complex and inconsistent data integration strategies.
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Related technologies
Notable users
- Microsoft (for internal products and developer tools)
- Large enterprises with legacy Windows applications (e.g., finance, manufacturing, government) developed between the late 1990s and early 2000s
- Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who built data-driven applications on the Microsoft stack