Definition

data source name (DSN)

Part of the Database glossary:

(DSN also stands for Deep Space Network .)

Next Steps

A data source name (DSN) is a data structure that contains the information about a specific database that an Open Database Connectivity ( ODBC ) driver needs in order to connect to it. Included in the DSN, which resides either in the registry or as a separate text file, is information such as the name, directory and driver of the database, and, depending on the type of DSN, the ID and password of the user. The developer creates a separate DSN for each database. To connect to a particular database, the developer specifies its DSN within a program. In contrast, DSN-less connections require that all the necessary information be specified within the program.

There are three kinds of DSN: user DSNs (sometimes called machine DSN s); system DSN s; and file DSN s. User and system DSNs are specific to a particular computer, and store DSN information in the registry. A user DSN allows database access for a single user on a single computer, and a system DSN for any user of a particular computer. A file DSN contains the relevant information within a text file with a .DSN file extension, and can be shared by users of different computers who have the same drivers installed.

This was last updated in March 2011
Contributor(s): Beth Kane
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

Related Terms

Definitions

  • Amazon Dynamo Database (DDB)

    - Amazon Dynamo Database (DDB) is a fully-managed NoSQL database service. Dynamo Database is known for extremely low latencies and scalability. (WhatIs.com)

  • Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)

    - Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) is a fully-managed SQL database service. Amazon RDS offers an array of database engine choices to help with database management tasks such as migration, bac... (WhatIs.com)

  • Redis

    - Redis is an open source key-value database sponsored by VMware. (WhatIs.com)

Glossaries

  • Database

    - Terms related to databases, including definitions about relational databases and words and phrases about database management.

  • Software applications

    - Terms related to software applications, including definitions about software programs for vertical industries and words and phrases about software development, use and management.

  • Internet technologies

    - This WhatIs.com glossary contains terms related to Internet technologies, including definitions about port numbers, standards and protocols and words and phrases about how the Internet works.

Tech TalkComment

Share
Comments

    Results

    Contribute to the conversation

    All fields are required. Comments will appear at the bottom of the article.
    Back to top