Chapter 1. Running And Using HyperSQL - HSQLDB

Introduction

HyperSQL Database (HSQLDB) is a modern relational database system. Version 2.7.4 is the latest release of the all-new version 2 code. Written from ground up to follow the international ISO SQL:2023 standard, it supports the complete set of the classic features of the SQL Standard, together with optional features such as stored procedures and triggers.

HyperSQL version 2.7.4 is compatible with Java 11 or later and supports the Java module system. A version of the HSQLDB jar compiled with JDK 8 is also included in the download zip package. These jars are also available from Maven repositories.

HyperSQL is used for development, testing and deployment of database applications.

SQL Standard compliance is the most unique characteristic of HyperSQL.

There are several other distinctive features. HyperSQL can provide database access within the user's application process, within an application server, or as a separate server process. HyperSQL can run entirely in memory using a fast memory structure. HyperSQL can use disk persistence in a flexible way, with reliable crash-recovery. HyperSQL is the only open-source relational database management system with a high-performance dedicated lob storage system, suitable for gigabytes of lob data. It is also the only relational database that can create and access large comma delimited files as SQL tables. HyperSQL supports three live switchable transaction control models, including fully multi-threaded MVCC, and is suitable for high performance transaction processing applications. HyperSQL is also suitable for business intelligence, ETL and other applications that process large data sets. HyperSQL has a wide range of enterprise deployment options, such as XA transactions, connection pooling data sources and remote authentication.

New SQL syntax compatibility modes have been added to HyperSQL. These modes allow a high degree of compatibility with several other database systems which use non-standard SQL syntax.

HyperSQL is written in the Java programming language and runs in a Java virtual machine (JVM). It supports the JDBC interface for database access.

The ODBC driver for PostgreSQL can be used with HSQLDB.

This guide covers the database engine features, SQL syntax and different modes of operation. The JDBC interfaces, pooling and XA components are documented in the JavaDoc. Utilities such as SqlTool and DatabaseManagerSwing are covered in a separate Utilities Guide.