What is the difference between Statement and PreparedStatement in JDBC?

In JDBC, Statement and PreparedStatement are two interfaces used for executing SQL queries. The main differences between them are:

1. Performance: PreparedStatement provides better performance compared to Statement. This is because PreparedStatement objects are precompiled, meaning the SQL query is parsed and compiled only once, and can be executed multiple times with different parameters without recompilation.
2. SQL Injection: PreparedStatement helps in preventing SQL injection attacks by escaping special characters in the SQL query parameters. Statement does not provide this feature, leaving the application vulnerable to SQL injection.
3. Caching: PreparedStatement can be cached by the database server, leading to potential performance improvements when the same query is executed multiple times with different parameters. Statement, on the other hand, cannot be cached.

Therefore, it is recommended to use PreparedStatement over Statement in JDBC for better performance, security, and caching benefits.