This newest entry into the phalanx of JDBC books ranks among the best. If you're trying to code a JDBC program and want to see only working examples of key program pieces, The Complete Guide to Java Database Programming is the book you want. This guide covers connections, inserts, deletes, and most everything else that database applications and applets must do. Even better, all the source code appears on the book's CD-ROM and is ready for experimentation or copying into your own programs.

In addition to teaching you how to use JDBC, The Complete Guide to Java Database Programming also informs you why you should use the suite. The book starts with some conceptual chapters that explain the peculiarities of transacting with a database across a TCP/IP network. However, author Matthew Stiple quickly gets into stride and shows you step by step how to connect to and do things with a remote database, without treating you like an imbecile. He explains connections, the various statement objects, SQL, and several results of objects in loving detail. Siple gives metadata interfaces more attention than most books do and also covers advanced concepts. He walks you through the process of creating what he calls DataBeans, which are JavaBeans--compliant modules that you can reuse to create many different databases. He also explains how to create a database browser that you can use to browse any SQL92 database. The book wraps up with a java.sql.* API reference. The Complete Guide to Java Database Programming is the best JDBC book out there, albeit by a narrow margin. Though you may want to look elsewhere for really advanced information, this one's a good bet for your bookshelf.