Firebird SQL Basics for Java Developers

December 29, 2025

#1

Firebird is a lightweight, open-source relational database that fits well with Java applications. Let’s explore its basic SQL features that every Java developer should know.

1. Creating a Database and Table

You can create a database using isql or from a Java app with JDBC. Example SQL to create a simple table:

CREATE TABLE employees (
  id INTEGER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100),
  department VARCHAR(50),
  salary DECIMAL(10,2)
);

This creates a table similar to what you might use in MySQL or PostgreSQL.

2. Inserting and Retrieving Data

Inserting data is straightforward:

INSERT INTO employees (name, department, salary)
VALUES ('Alice', 'HR', 5500.00);

Retrieve data with a simple query:

SELECT * FROM employees;

Firebird supports standard SQL syntax and can handle complex queries efficiently.

3. Updating and Deleting Records

To update existing data:

PDATE employees SET salary = 6000.00 WHERE name = 'Alice';

To delete a record:

DELETE FROM employees WHERE name = 'Alice';

Firebird enforces transactions, so you can wrap updates in BEGIN TRANSACTION and COMMIT.

4. Using Joins and Conditions

Firebird supports all standard join operations. Example:

SELECT e.name, d.name AS dept_name
FROM employees e
JOIN departments d ON e.department = d.id
WHERE e.salary >5000;

This helps in combining and filtering data easily for reporting or analytics.

5. Accessing Firebird from Java

You can connect to Firebird using the Jaybird JDBC driver:

Connectionconn = DriverManager.getConnection(
  "jdbc:firebirdsql://localhost:3050/yourdb",
  "sysdba", "masterkey"
);

execute SQL using PreparedStatement for secure and efficient data access.