Guides
General Concepts
<div class="nostroke_table"></div>  
|   |   |
|:--|:--------|
| **Handle name** |[Connection](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/reference/develop-app/connection-handles?view=sql-server-ver16) |
| **Type name** | `SQL_HANDLE_DBC` |
|   |   |
|:--|:--------|
| **Description** |Represents a connection to a data source. Used to establish, manage, and terminate connections.  Defines both the driver and the data source to use within the driver. |
| **Use case** | Establishing a connection to a database, managing the connection state |
| **Additional information** | Multiple connection handles can be [created](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/reference/develop-app/allocating-a-connection-handle-odbc?view=sql-server-ver16) as needed, allowing simultaneous connections to multiple data sources. *Note:* Allocating a connection handle does not establish a connection, but must be allocated first, and then used once the connection has been established. |