question about connection efficiency in database

Hi
I am developing an application that sends data to the database (MySQL) of a website each 5 minutes (i.e. I am updating the record each 5 minutes).
the sent data has this form
"10101010001000100010101010109922342123456"
my question is:
should I keep the connection open and update the data each five minutes and never close the connection; or should I close the connection after each update and re-open it again (i.e. establishing the connection again after 5 minutes for the next update) and in general what is the difference between the two approaches regarding the java application and the response of the website, any ideas, reviews?

Regards.
Anderson.

I would open and close it. If you keep it open, it will degrade in time. Also, if you keep it open, for security matters, someone could access your db and mess with it with possible sql injection

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sno

I would open and close it. If you keep it open, it will degrade in time. Also, if you keep it open, for security matters, someone could access your db and mess with it with possible sql injection

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I disagree; opening and closing a connection can be very resource demanding; I'd say keep it open. It is the responsibility of the database engine that a connection can not be stolen by a third party and it has nothing to do with SQL injection.

kind regards,

Jos

Hi guys
thank you for your replies, JosAH can you please clarify what do you mean by "resource demanding" do you mean the resources of the PC or the resources of the website?
Regards.
Anderson.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr_anderson

Hi guys
thank you for your replies, JosAH can you please clarify what do you mean by "resource demanding" do you mean the resources of the PC or the resources of the website?

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Both; opening a connection takes quite a bit of resources on the side where your database engine runs and it can take resources on the client side as well. Allocating and releasing those resources over and over again is unnecessary, just do it once and keep the resouces for as long as possible and needed.

kind regards,

Jos

Making db connections isn't so bad these days, to be honest. And they are only doing it every 5 minutes. And connections should be viewed as a scarce resource. However, if there's nothing else using the db (or not much else using it, in terms of numbers of connections) I'd just hold onto the connection...bearing in mind that you might lose it.

I have thought with the issue of losing the connection in case of keeping it open although I can simply solve this issue in the try-catch block.
By the way does the orums use the same technique?
I mean when I enter my user-name and password and log in to the forum I can post as much as I want, any comments about this?
Thank you guys for your replies.
Anderson.

Web sites almost invariably use connection pooling.