Download MariaDb 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 MariaDb, 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 MariaDb are listed in the section below.
Download the MariaDb JDBC Driver
MariaDB is a community-developed, drop-in replacement for MySQL, created by MySQL's original developers after Oracle's acquisition. It adds features like Galera clustering, ColumnStore storage engine, and more advanced replication options while maintaining full MySQL compatibility.
MariaDB JDBC Driver Details
- Required File(s): mysql-connector-java-nn-bin.jar
- Java Driver Class: com.mysql.jdbc.Driver
- JDBC URL: jdbc:mysql://HOST[:PORT][/DB]
- Website: MySQL
The driver archive is a zip file. Extract it and load the .jar files using DbSchema's Driver Manager.
Enable Remote Access on MariaDB Server
By default MariaDb does not allow connecting from another machine as the one where the server is installed. You can enable remote access during installation ( see the next chapter ) or later using the instructions below.- On the server type in the command prompt or terminal mariadb -u root -p <root_password> The mariadb console should start.
- List the databases using show databases
- View the configured grants using select * from db;
- Enable remote access for a user foo using GRANT ALL ON foo.* TO bar@'202.54.10.20' IDENTIFIED BY 'PASSWORD'; Here you have to edit the user ( put your user instead of foo ), the IP of the client machine and the root password.
MariaDB Installation Tips
Install MariaDb from http://www.mysql.com. During installation go for a detailed install, and when you are prompted for the user password check the 'Enable root access from remote machines'.
Enabling this you will be allowed to connect to MariaDb from another computer. Remember the password you set here, it will be requested when connecting to the database as user root.
DbSchema and MariaDB
Because MariaDB is wire-compatible with MySQL, DbSchema connects using the MySQL JDBC driver and renders all InnoDB tables, foreign keys, and indexes in the ER diagram. Use Schema Synchronization to generate MariaDB-specific DDL including COLLATION and ENGINE clauses.
Have connection issues? Contact the DbSchema team for help.
Explore MariaDb Visually with DbSchema
Once the JDBC driver is configured, DbSchema connects to your MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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 MariaDb 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.