What are Java® Data Objects?

Java® programming is a computer software language that uses modules and functions to manipulate data. Java® data objects (JDO) is a Java® module that is used to transform data from a database into the Java® software programming language. These data objects are used by developers to change the data that comes from the database. This is a standard method used by Java® programs to access and change data.

Conceptually, Java® data objects are nothing more then data elements from a database. These elements are broken into components that map specific functional types of data. Some examples of data objects include people, addresses, and phone numbers. Each data object has a specific purpose for the application. It is simple method of separating data into individual components.

Java® data objects are widely used by Java® software developers. The JDO module includes a specific application programming interface (API) to manipulate the data from the database. This API enables Java® programmers to access and change data within a program.

There are many tutorials available on the Internet that explain how to use Java® data objects. These tutorials typically include examples and developer forums that provide assistance for programmers. Most developers can learn how to use the JDO in a few days. This is a relatively simple API to learn for an experienced Java® programmer.

The architecture approach used by Java® data objects is known as object-relational mapping. This is a computer programming method of mapping data into objects. Each object has control over the data contained within the object. It also has relationships to other objects based on predefined rules.

There are several alternatives to Java® data objects. These include complex enterprise Java® beans (EJB) and simple Java® database connectivity (JDBC) techniques. These technologies can be used instead of Java® data objects and each comes with its owns pros and cons. One of the benefits to Java® data objects is that it provides a standard API for querying multiple types of databases, which never changes regardless of the database used.

One of the issues with JDO is its inability to handle complex functions and database updates. The JDO module supports standard access methods, but complex joins and distributed updates become problematic. If a software program requires complex manipulation of data, the JDO module may not be a suitable option.