What is the difference between Statement and PreparedStatement in JDBC?

In JDBC, Statement and PreparedStatement are two interfaces used to execute SQL queries in Java applications. The main differences between them are:

1. Performance: PreparedStatement is more efficient in terms of performance as it allows the database to precompile the SQL query before execution, whereas Statement directly executes the query each time it is called.
2. SQL Injection: PreparedStatement helps in preventing SQL injection attacks by automatically escaping special characters in the SQL query, while Statement does not provide this feature and is more vulnerable to such attacks.
3. Caching: PreparedStatement allows for query parameterization and reuse, which can be helpful in caching query execution plans and improving performance for repeated executions of the same query.
4. Flexibility: Statement is suitable for simple queries with static SQL statements, while PreparedStatement is recommended for queries with dynamically changing parameters or complex queries.

Overall, PreparedStatement is preferred over Statement for its performance benefits, security features, and flexibility in handling SQL queries in JDBC applications.