   cgi scripts
  if cgi scripts, such as a PHP script, are used to enable programs to communicate with each other, how does, say, a MySQL database communicate with a C++ program across a network? 
  It''s the other way around. A MySQL db is a server. A client written in C++ (or whatever) connects across the network to the server to run queries. ;  Using....? how does a client access the server with SQL queries?  Text strings? :string* str = "SELECT * FROM MyDatabase";query_mysql(str);How would the query_mysql() function work?  This is what I really meant to be asking, I just didn''t word it properly.  Sorry! ;  ODBCYour client app, be it asp/.net, php, C++, VB etc connects to the ODBC driver, the ODBC driver connects to a local or remote DB. Most ODBC drivers give ANSI-92 functionality plus a number or proprietary commands. EG. MS SQL ODBC driver connects to remote server over a couple of TCP/IP ports. You just need to communicate with the ODBC driver and let it worry about all the other stuff.(I think Java uses similar JDBC, but not my area of expertise.)Jay ;  In addition to the ODBC driver, there is also a C++ API called MySQL++. See manual here.;quote:Original post by Jason Zelos  I think Java uses similar JDBC, but not my area of expertise.Correct.  I''ve used it a few times, and it''s quite similar.   Grant Palin 