You only connect to the database using ODBC if you use the Type-1 driver also known as the jdbc-odbc bridge. Types 2 and 3 are a mixture (you can search the forum for a more complete definition), but Type-4 drivers are
Java libraries usually developped by the database vendor which allows Java code to talk directly to the database ie no ODBC, no client-side installations, all Java and the Database.
Dave