Editing Data source name (section)

{{Short description|String that has an associated data structure used to describe a connection to a data source}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}

[[Internet|In]] [[computing]], a '''data source name''' ('''DSN''', sometimes known as a '''database source name''', though "[[Computer file|data sources]]" can comprise other repositories apart from [[database management system|databases]]) is a string that has an associated [[data structure]] used to describe a connection to a data source. Most commonly used in connection with [[ODBC]], DSNs also exist for [[JDBC]] and for other data access mechanisms.  The term often overlaps with "[[connection string]]".  Most systems do not make a distinction between DSNs or connection strings and the term can often be used interchangeably.<ref>[https://www.gridgain.com/docs/latest/developers-guide/SQL/ODBC/connection-string-dsn Connection String and DSN]</ref>

DSN attributes may include, but are not limited to:<ref>[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/dsn-connection-string-attribute?view=sql-server-ver15 ODBC DSN connection strings]</ref>

* the name of the data source
* the location of the data source
* the name of a [[database driver]] which can access the data source
* a [[User identifier|user ID]] for data access (if required)
* a user password for data access (if required)

The system administrator of a client machine generally creates a separate DSN for each relevant data source.

Standardizing DSNs offers a level of [[indirection]]; various applications (for example: [[Apache HTTP Server|Apache]]/[[PHP]] and [[Internet Information Services|IIS]]/[[Active Server Pages|ASP]]) can take advantage of this in accessing shared data sources.