ODAC

ODAC, which stands for Oracle Data Access Components, is a software suite from Oracle Corporation that provides connectivity between Windows applications and Oracle Database. The package aggregates the Oracle client libraries and development tools needed to build, deploy, and run data-driven applications on Windows. The main components typically included are Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET), Oracle Providers for OLE DB, the Oracle ODBC driver, and Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio; exact contents vary by release.

ODAC is intended for developers and IT teams that deploy Windows-based applications using .NET, Visual Studio, and other Oracle data access technologies. It allows applications written in .NET languages, as well as OLE DB/ODBC-based software, to connect to Oracle Database with supported authentication, pooling, and performance features. ODAC distributions are released to align with Oracle Database versions and are distributed as standalone installers, separate from the full Oracle Database installation.

Usage and licensing: ODAC is proprietary Oracle software that requires appropriate licenses. It is installed on client machines and servers that host applications; a compatible Oracle Client or Oracle Database installation is often required. In recent years, Oracle has also promoted separate data access options such as Oracle Managed Data Access, which provides ODP.NET components that can be deployed with applications without a full client installation.

See also: Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET).