---
title: "Faster Queries and New Capabilities with the Open-Source Databricks JDBC Driver"
description: "The open-source Databricks JDBC driver 3.x and later releases address connectivity needs affecting dashboards, spreadsheets, applications, and other data workflows. Compared with the legacy 2.x driver, they deliver up to 30% faster retrieval of large query results while preserving backward compatibility. Architectural changes add full Arrow-based transfer for JDK 16+, a first-class asynchronous execution API, stream-based ingestion into Databricks Volumes, and integration with the Statement Execution API. The driver also supports stored procedures, multi-statement transactions, Unity Catalog metric views, query tags, geospatial and complex data types, plus built-in client telemetry for query latency, metrics, and errors. Its open-source ownership and Databricks maintenance are presented as enabling faster fixes, new features, transparency, contributions, and tighter platform integration."
---

# Faster Queries and New Capabilities with the Open-Source Databricks JDBC Driver

[Databricks](https://yomu.fyi/company/databricks) · Toussaint Webb, Gopal Lal, Kaitlin Baumgardner · May 12, 2026

**Type:** Announcement

## Summary

The open-source Databricks JDBC driver 3.x and later releases address connectivity needs affecting dashboards, spreadsheets, applications, and other data workflows. Compared with the legacy 2.x driver, they deliver up to 30% faster retrieval of large query results while preserving backward compatibility. Architectural changes add full Arrow-based transfer for JDK 16+, a first-class asynchronous execution API, stream-based ingestion into Databricks Volumes, and integration with the Statement Execution API. The driver also supports stored procedures, multi-statement transactions, Unity Catalog metric views, query tags, geospatial and complex data types, plus built-in client telemetry for query latency, metrics, and errors. Its open-source ownership and Databricks maintenance are presented as enabling faster fixes, new features, transparency, contributions, and tighter platform integration.

## Context

Modern dashboards, spreadsheet analysis, applications, and other workflows depend on fast, reliable connectivity to data, while retrieving large query results can become a major performance bottleneck. The release also addresses the need for newer Databricks capabilities, richer SQL workflows, and better visibility into query and connection behavior.

## Approach / What changed

Databricks enhanced its open-source JDBC driver in releases 3.x and above. Changes include Arrow-based transfer for JDK 16+, asynchronous statement execution, stream-based ingestion into Databricks Volumes, Statement Execution API integration, expanded SQL and data-type support, built-in client telemetry, and continued open-source ownership and maintenance by Databricks.

## Takeaways

- The 3.x-and-above driver delivers up to 30% faster large-result retrieval than the legacy 2.x JDBC driver, with backward compatibility maintained during migration.
- The driver supports Arrow transfer on JDK 16+, asynchronous query submission, direct Statement Execution API integration, and streaming bulk ingestion into Databricks Volumes without local staging.
- New functionality covers stored procedures, multi-statement transactions, Unity Catalog metric views, query tags, geospatial data, complex types, and telemetry for latency, metrics, and errors.

**Tags:** [Databricks](https://yomu.fyi/topic/databricks), [JDBC](https://yomu.fyi/topic/jdbc), [Open Source](https://yomu.fyi/topic/open-source), [Performance](https://yomu.fyi/topic/performance)

- Source: [Databricks](https://www.databricks.com/blog/faster-queries-and-new-capabilities-open-source-databricks-jdbc-driver)
- Source URL: https://www.databricks.com/blog/faster-queries-and-new-capabilities-open-source-databricks-jdbc-driver
- Ingested by Yomu: 2026-08-31T03:35:00.248Z

[Read original post](https://www.databricks.com/blog/faster-queries-and-new-capabilities-open-source-databricks-jdbc-driver)