What is the difference between execute(), executeQuery(), and executeUpdate() methods in JDBC?

What is the difference between execute(), executeQuery(), and executeUpdate() methods in JDBC?

When working with JDBC in Java, it is important to understand the differences between the execute(), executeQuery(), and executeUpdate() methods.

• execute(): This method is used to execute any SQL statement and returns a boolean value to indicate the type of the result. It can execute any SQL statement, including DDL, DML, or DCL statements. It returns true if the first result is a ResultSet object and false if it is an update count or there are no results.
• executeQuery(): This method is specifically used to execute SELECT queries that retrieve data from the database. It returns a ResultSet object that contains the data fetched from the database. It is used when you want to retrieve data from the database.
• executeUpdate(): This method is used to execute DML (Data Manipulation Language) statements like INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, etc. It returns an integer value representing the number of rows affected by the query. It is used when you want to update, insert, or delete data in the database.

In summary, execute() is a general-purpose method that can be used to execute any SQL statement, executeQuery() is used to retrieve data from the database, and executeUpdate() is used to modify data in the database.

It is important to choose the appropriate method based on the type of SQL statement you are trying to execute in order to maintain the integrity and efficiency of your JDBC code.