TopLink
Encyclopedia
In computing
, TopLink is an object-relational mapping
(ORM) package for Java
developers. It provides a framework for storing Java objects in a relational database or for converting Java objects to XML documents.
TopLink Essentials is the reference implementation
of the EJB 3.0 Java Persistence API (JPA)
and the open-source community edition of Oracle's TopLink product. TopLink Essentials is a limited version of the proprietary product. For example, TopLink Essentials doesn't provide cache synchronization between clustered applications, some cache invalidation policy, and query Cache.
in the 1990s. (The "TOP" in TopLink is an acronym for The Object People, and the name was originally capitalized as "TOPLink".) In 1996-1998 a Java version of the product was added to the product line, named TopLink for Java. After the joint acquisition of The Object People in April 2000 by BEA Systems
and WebGain
, the TopLink product-line became the property of WebGain
In 2002 Oracle Corporation
acquired TopLink, which continues to be developed as a member of the Oracle Fusion Middleware
family of products.
TopLink has won awards including::
In 2006, Oracle donated source code from the TopLink product and development resources to the open-source Sun Microsystems
java.net
GlassFish
project. This project, named TopLink Essentials, became the Java EE EJB 3.0 JPA reference implementation.
In 2007, Oracle donated the source code from the TopLink product and development resources to the open-source Eclipse Foundation
EclipseLink
project.
In March 2008 the Eclipse Foundation announced that Sun Microsystems had selected the EclipseLink project as the reference implementation for the JPA 2.0, JSR 317 standard to succeed TopLink Essentials.
tool, TopLink has other features including:
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, TopLink is an object-relational mapping
Object-relational mapping
Object-relational mapping in computer software is a programming technique for converting data between incompatible type systems in object-oriented programming languages. This creates, in effect, a "virtual object database" that can be used from within the programming language...
(ORM) package for Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
developers. It provides a framework for storing Java objects in a relational database or for converting Java objects to XML documents.
TopLink Essentials is the reference implementation
Reference implementation
In the software development process, a reference implementation is the standard from which all other implementations, with their attendant customizations, are measured, and to which all improvements are added...
of the EJB 3.0 Java Persistence API (JPA)
Java Persistence API
The Java Persistence API, sometimes referred to as JPA, is a Java programming language framework managing relational data in applications using Java Platform, Standard Edition and Java Platform, Enterprise Edition....
and the open-source community edition of Oracle's TopLink product. TopLink Essentials is a limited version of the proprietary product. For example, TopLink Essentials doesn't provide cache synchronization between clustered applications, some cache invalidation policy, and query Cache.
History
The Object People originally developed TopLink in SmalltalkSmalltalk
Smalltalk is an object-oriented, dynamically typed, reflective programming language. Smalltalk was created as the language to underpin the "new world" of computing exemplified by "human–computer symbiosis." It was designed and created in part for educational use, more so for constructionist...
in the 1990s. (The "TOP" in TopLink is an acronym for The Object People, and the name was originally capitalized as "TOPLink".) In 1996-1998 a Java version of the product was added to the product line, named TopLink for Java. After the joint acquisition of The Object People in April 2000 by BEA Systems
BEA Systems
BEA Systems, Inc. specialized in enterprise infrastructure software products known as "middleware", which connect software applications to databases and was acquired by Oracle Corporation on April 29, 2008.- History :...
and WebGain
WebGain
WebGain was a jointly funded venture between Warburg Pincus and BEA Systems. The objective of the company was to acquire existing Java EE /Java programming language development tools and roll them together into a single application development environment: WebGain studio. A number of challenges,...
, the TopLink product-line became the property of WebGain
WebGain
WebGain was a jointly funded venture between Warburg Pincus and BEA Systems. The objective of the company was to acquire existing Java EE /Java programming language development tools and roll them together into a single application development environment: WebGain studio. A number of challenges,...
In 2002 Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
acquired TopLink, which continues to be developed as a member of the Oracle Fusion Middleware
Oracle Fusion Middleware
Oracle Fusion Middleware consists of several software products from Oracle Corporation. OFM spans multiple services, including Java EE and developer tools, integration services, business intelligence, collaboration, and content management...
family of products.
TopLink has won awards including::
- Java Pro Readers' Choice Award for Best Java Data Access Tool or Driver (July 2003).
- Editor's Choice JavaWorldJavaWorldJavaWorld is an online technology website focused on Java technologies, founded in 1996. Since 2006, JavaWorld has become a subsidiary of Network World...
2003 Award for Best Java Data Access Tool (2003).
- 4th-best Java persistence architecture (as voted by Java Developer's Journal readers in 2004).
In 2006, Oracle donated source code from the TopLink product and development resources to the open-source Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
java.net
Java.net
java.net is a Java technology related community website. It also offers a web-based source code repository for Java projects.-History:java.net was announced by Sun Microsystems during JavaOne 2003....
GlassFish
GlassFish
GlassFish is an open source application server project started by Sun Microsystems for the Java EE platform and now sponsored by Oracle Corporation. The supported version is called Oracle GlassFish Server...
project. This project, named TopLink Essentials, became the Java EE EJB 3.0 JPA reference implementation.
In 2007, Oracle donated the source code from the TopLink product and development resources to the open-source Eclipse Foundation
Eclipse Foundation
The Eclipse Foundation is a not-for-profit, member supported corporation that hosts the open-source Eclipse Projects and helps cultivate both an open source community and an ecosystem of complementary products and services...
EclipseLink
EclipseLink
EclipseLink is the open source Eclipse Persistence Services Project from the Eclipse Foundation. The software provides an extensible framework that allows Java developers to interact with various data services, including databases, web services, Object XML mapping , and Enterprise Information Systems...
project.
In March 2008 the Eclipse Foundation announced that Sun Microsystems had selected the EclipseLink project as the reference implementation for the JPA 2.0, JSR 317 standard to succeed TopLink Essentials.
Features
As well as functioning as an object-relational mappingObject-relational mapping
Object-relational mapping in computer software is a programming technique for converting data between incompatible type systems in object-oriented programming languages. This creates, in effect, a "virtual object database" that can be used from within the programming language...
tool, TopLink has other features including:
- query framework that supports an object-oriented expression framework, Query by ExampleQuery by ExampleQuery by Example is a database query language for relational databases. It was devised by Moshé M. Zloof at IBM Research during the mid 1970s, in parallel to the development of SQL. It is the first graphical query language, using visual tables where the user would enter commands, example elements...
(QBE), EJB QLEJB QLEJB QL or EJB-QL is a portable database query language for Enterprise Java Beans. It was used in Java EE applications. Compared to SQL, however, it is less complex but less powerful as well.-History:...
, SQLSQLSQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
, and stored procedureStored procedureA stored procedure is a subroutine available to applications that access a relational database system. A stored procedure is actually stored in the database data dictionary.Typical uses for stored procedures include data validation or access control mechanisms...
s - an object-level transaction framework
- caching to ensure object identity
- a set of direct and relational mappings
- object-to-XMLXMLExtensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
mappings, in addition to JAXB support - EISEnterprise Information SystemAn Enterprise Information System is generally any kind of computing system that is of "enterprise class". This means typically offering high quality of service, dealing with large volumes of data and capable of supporting some large organization .Enterprise Information Systems provide a technology...
/JCAJava EE Connector ArchitectureJava EE Connector Architecture is a Java-based technology solution for connecting application servers and enterprise information systems as part of enterprise application integration solutions. While JDBC is specifically used to connect Java EE applications to databases, JCA is a more generic...
support for non-relational datasources - visual mapping editor (Mapping Workbench)
- limited support for query in memory