# Embedded Derby JDBC driver

The Derby driver class name for the embedded environment is org.apache.derby.jdbc.EmbeddedDriver.

In a Java application running on JDK 1.5 or lower, you typically load the driver with the static `Class.forName` method or with the `jdbc.drivers` system property. If your application runs on JDK 1.6 or higher, then you do not need to explicitly load the EmbeddedDriver. In that environment, the driver loads automatically.

For detailed information about loading the Derby JDBC driver, see "java.sql.Driver" in the Java DB Reference Manual.

Parent topic: Derby embedded basics
Related concepts
Getting a nested connection
Using Derby with IDEs
Related tasks
Starting Derby as an embedded database
Related reference
Embedded Derby JDBC database connection URL