We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Connection String?

By T.S. Adams
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,593
Share

When accessing information from the Internet or any other network, a user must provide the computer with commands to indicating where and how to access the requisite data. Although the only step for the end-user is typing in a web address, within the computer, much more is going on. The connection string for the computer is a string — a list of characters and information — which provides the computer with parameters about accessing a specific piece of data.

Think of a connection string like a note containing the address of a particular restaurant along with information about a reservation as well as any other relevant information about the dining experience, such as table size and dress code. A typical connection string contains information such as the address of the server containing the information, whether the server containing the information operates using the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) standard, the specific type of SSL mode utilized, the specific database containing the requested information, user identification information, password information, and the connection timeout number.

Although the process is completely transparent to most end-users, the connection string information is transferred from the location where it is stored — whether on the specific computer or on another computer on the same network — to the driver file for the network card. A driver file is a file which tells the computer's operating system how to use a specific piece of hardware, such as the computer's graphics or network card. Once the driver file receives the file containing the connection string information, it can then use the information to establish a connection between the computer's Ethernet or other type of networking card and the remote server or database containing the desired information.

The location to specify a particular type of connection string varies depending on the software program used. For example, some database programs allows users to enter command-line connection strings (manual inputting of the specific connection string information). Alternatively, the user can store the connection string information in a specific file, automating the process of input. In either event, the actual process of using the connection string remains the same: the computer passes the data to the driver which utilizes the networking device(s) on the computer to connect with and retrieve the requested data. The only difference is whether the end-user wishes to use a static string — in a stored file — or enter the string on-the-fly, as might be required for a database with a frequently changing password.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-connection-string.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.