A term used to refer to a database or database server used as a source of data. ODBC data sources are referred to by their Data Source Name (DSN). Data sources can be created by using the Windows Control Panel or the RegisterDatabase or rdoRegisterDataSource method. .

a database that is registered with the ODBC driver

a named resource the application passes to the ODBC driver manager which tells it which ODBC driver to use and any connection attributes it should use

a user-defined name that points to a remote source of data

The location of a set of data that can be accessed using an ODBC driver. Also, a stored definition that contains all of the connection information an ODBC application requires to connect to the data source.

A specification of the data a user wants to access via ODBC, and the information needed to get to that data.