When does the JdbcTemplate class acquire a database connection?

Question

Options

• AWhen one of its execute method is called
• BDuring JdbcTemplate instantiation
• CDuring application startup
• DNone of the above.

• A
  7% (2)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  14% (4)
• D
  76% (22)

Explanation

Option D is correct because none of the listed choices accurately describe JdbcTemplate's connection behavior: it acquires a connection lazily, on a per-operation basis directly from the configured DataSource (via DataSourceUtils.getConnection()), and immediately releases it back to the pool after each operation completes.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A is the closest but misleading - connection acquisition isn't limited to methods named execute; it also happens through query(), update(), batchUpdate(), and others. No single method name captures this.
• B is wrong because JdbcTemplate's constructor only stores a reference to the DataSource; no connection is opened yet.
• C is wrong because Spring does not eagerly open database connections at startup for JdbcTemplate; this would waste pool resources.

Memory tip: Think of JdbcTemplate as a frugal borrower - it only checks out a connection from the DataSource the moment it needs to run SQL, then immediately returns it. It never holds a connection open between operations.

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