Download TiDB 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 TiDB, 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 TiDB are listed in the section below.
Download the TiDB JDBC Driver
TiDB is a distributed SQL database developed by PingCAP that combines OLTP and OLAP capabilities in a single platform, known as HTAP. It is MySQL-compatible, allowing existing MySQL applications to migrate with minimal changes, while providing horizontal scalability and high availability through its distributed architecture. TiDB separates storage (TiKV and TiFlash) from compute, enabling independent scaling of each tier.
TiDB 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: TiDB by PingCAP
TiDB listens on port 4000 by default (not MySQL's standard 3306). Use the MySQL Connector/J driver. For TiDB Cloud, connection strings are available from the TiDB Cloud console and require SSL: append ?sslMode=VERIFY_IDENTITY&serverSslCert=/path/to/cert.
DbSchema and TiDB
DbSchema connects to TiDB using the MySQL JDBC driver, visualizing TiDB's distributed SQL schemas, enabling MySQL-compatible query authoring, and supporting schema design for both OLTP and HTAP workloads across TiKV and TiFlash storage engines.
Have connection issues? Contact the DbSchema team for help.
Explore TiDB Visually with DbSchema
Once the JDBC driver is configured, DbSchema connects to your TiDB 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 TiDB 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 TiDB 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 TiDB 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 TiDB 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 TiDB 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 TiDB 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.