Download H2 JDBC Driver
What Is a JDBC Driver?
A JDBC driver is a Java library file (.jar) that enables Java applications — including DbSchema — to communicate with a database over a standard API. The driver translates generic JDBC calls into the network protocol understood by H2, so you never have to write low-level socket code. Drivers are typically distributed by the database vendor or as open-source projects.
Understanding the JDBC URL
Every JDBC driver identifies the target database through a connection URL. The URL encodes the hostname, port, database name, and any driver-specific parameters as a single string. The exact syntax varies per driver — the details for H2 are listed in the section below.
Download the H2 JDBC Driver
H2 is a fast, embedded Java SQL database engine, widely used for unit testing, Spring Boot applications, and lightweight embedded use cases. It supports in-memory mode for tests that need a clean database on every run and file-based mode for persistence.
H2 JDBC Driver Details
- Required File(s): h2-1.1.108.jar
- Java Driver Class: org.h2.Driver
- JDBC URL: jdbc:h2:file:FILE or jdbc:h2:tcp://HOST/~/DB
- Website: H2
The driver archive is a zip file. Extract it and load the .jar files using DbSchema's Driver Manager.
DbSchema and H2
DbSchema connects to H2 in both in-memory and persistent modes. Use DbSchema's Query Builder to explore H2 schemas during development, and the Schema Synchronization feature to compare H2 test schemas against production database schemas.
Have connection issues? Contact the DbSchema team for help.
Explore H2 Visually with DbSchema
Once the JDBC driver is configured, DbSchema connects to your H2 database and gives you a full graphical workbench — no command-line required. Available as a free Community Edition and a full-featured PRO Edition. No registration needed to get started.
Interactive ER Diagrams
Reverse-engineer your H2 schema into a drag-and-drop ER diagram. Arrange tables visually, add new columns, define foreign keys, and let DbSchema generate the DDL — all without writing SQL by hand.
Visual Query Builder
Compose H2 queries by clicking on tables and columns — no SQL knowledge required. Add joins, filters, groupings, and aggregations through a point-and-click interface, then copy the generated SQL or run it directly against the live database.
Relational Data Explorer
Browse H2 table data and follow foreign key relationships across tables in a single view. Edit cells inline, filter rows, and paginate through large datasets — all without leaving the explorer.
Schema Synchronization
Compare your H2 schema across development, staging, and production environments. DbSchema generates the exact ALTER statements needed to close the gap and lets you review every change before executing — reducing the risk of unintended schema drift.
SQL Editor
Write and execute H2 queries in the integrated SQL editor with schema-aware autocomplete, syntax highlighting, and instant result display. Run scripts, inspect execution plans, and export results to CSV or JSON from a single interface.
HTML Schema Documentation
Generate a static HTML site documenting every table, column, type, index, and relationship in your H2 schema. Share it with your team or embed it in your project wiki — no extra tooling required.
For the full feature list and edition comparison, visit the DbSchema PRO Edition page.