About H2 Database Engine
H2 is a small SQL database engine written in Java. It can run embedded inside an application or as a separate server, and it can keep data in memory or on disk.
What it does
H2 implements the JDBC API, so Java programs can connect to it with standard tools. It supports transactions, full text search and encrypted databases. The project also ships a browser based console for running queries and checking tables, which makes quick work easy without setting up a separate client.
Key features
- Embedded or server mode
- In-memory or disk-based databases
- Browser based console application
- Encrypted databases
- Full text search and an ODBC driver
Who it's for
Java developers who need a light database for an application, a test setup or a prototype. Because the jar file is small, it also suits tools that must ship with few dependencies.
Pricing and good to know
H2 is open source and free to download as a zip file or a Windows installer. Donations to the project are optional and listed on its site. Because it is written in Java, it runs wherever a Java runtime is available, but it is intended for small to medium databases rather than very large production workloads.
Highlights
- Run embedded in an app or as a server
- Keep data in memory or on disk
- Browser based console for queries
- Encrypted database files
- Full text search and ODBC driver
