Download PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale, 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 PlanetScale are listed in the section below.
Download the PlanetScale JDBC Driver
PlanetScale is a MySQL-compatible serverless database platform built on Vitess, the technology behind YouTube's database infrastructure. It introduces a branching workflow for database schema changes, allowing developers to iterate on schema in isolated branches before deploying. PlanetScale's non-blocking schema change system eliminates downtime during migrations.
PlanetScale JDBC Driver Details
- Required File(s): mysql-connector-j-xxx.jar
- Java Driver Class: com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver
- JDBC URL: jdbc:mysql://{HOST}:{PORT}/{DB}
- Website: PlanetScale
Each PlanetScale branch has its own connection credentials available in the PlanetScale dashboard. Use sslMode=VERIFY_IDENTITY for secure connections. The MySQL Connector/J driver is fully compatible.
DbSchema and PlanetScale
DbSchema connects to PlanetScale using the MySQL JDBC driver, allowing visual schema exploration of each database branch, MySQL-compatible SQL editing, and schema comparison across branches to manage non-blocking schema change deploy requests.
Have connection issues? Contact the DbSchema team for help.
Explore PlanetScale Visually with DbSchema
Once the JDBC driver is configured, DbSchema connects to your PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale 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.