RowId (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.sql.RowId interface
Date: 2026-04-17

compact2, compact3
java.sql

## Interface RowId

-     public interface RowId

  The representation (mapping) in the Java programming language of an SQL ROWID value. An SQL ROWID is a built-in type, a value of which can be thought of as an address for its identified row in a database table. Whether that address is logical or, in any respects, physical is determined by its originating data source.

  Methods in the interfaces `ResultSet`, `CallableStatement`, and `PreparedStatement`, such as `getRowId` and `setRowId` allow a programmer to access a SQL `ROWID` value. The `RowId` interface provides a method for representing the value of the `ROWID` as a byte array or as a `String`.

  The method `getRowIdLifetime` in the interface `DatabaseMetaData`, can be used to determine if a `RowId` object remains valid for the duration of the transaction in which the `RowId` was created, the duration of the session in which the `RowId` was created, or, effectively, for as long as its identified row is not deleted. In addition to specifying the duration of its valid lifetime outside its originating data source, `getRowIdLifetime` specifies the duration of a `ROWID` value's valid lifetime within its originating data source. In this, it differs from a large object, because there is no limit on the valid lifetime of a large object within its originating data source.

  All methods on the `RowId` interface must be fully implemented if the JDBC driver supports the data type.

  Since:
    1.6
  See Also:
    `DatabaseMetaData`

- - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `boolean` | `equals(Object obj)` Compares this `RowId` to the specified object.
    `byte[]` | `getBytes()` Returns an array of bytes representing the value of the SQL `ROWID` designated by this `java.sql.RowId` object.
    `int` | `hashCode()` Returns a hash code value of this `RowId` object.
    `String` | `toString()` Returns a String representing the value of the SQL ROWID designated by this `java.sql.RowId` object.

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### equals

          boolean equals(Object obj)

      Compares this `RowId` to the specified object. The result is `true` if and only if the argument is not null and is a RowId object that represents the same ROWID as this object.

      It is important to consider both the origin and the valid lifetime of a `RowId` when comparing it to another `RowId`. If both are valid, and both are from the same table on the same data source, then if they are equal they identify the same row; if one or more is no longer guaranteed to be valid, or if they originate from different data sources, or different tables on the same data source, they may be equal but still not identify the same row.

      Overrides:
        `equals` in class `Object`
      Parameters:
        `obj` - the `Object` to compare this `RowId` object against.
      Returns:
        true if the `RowId`s are equal; false otherwise
      Since:
        1.6
      See Also:
        `Object.hashCode()`, `HashMap`

    - #### getBytes

          byte[] getBytes()

      Returns an array of bytes representing the value of the SQL `ROWID` designated by this `java.sql.RowId` object.
      Returns:
        an array of bytes, whose length is determined by the driver supplying the connection, representing the value of the ROWID designated by this java.sql.RowId object.

    - #### toString

          String toString()

      Returns a String representing the value of the SQL ROWID designated by this `java.sql.RowId` object.

      Like `java.sql.Date.toString()` returns the contents of its DATE as the `String` "2004-03-17" rather than as DATE literal in SQL (which would have been the `String` DATE "2004-03-17"), toString() returns the contents of its ROWID in a form specific to the driver supplying the connection, and possibly not as a `ROWID` literal.

      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        a String whose format is determined by the driver supplying the connection, representing the value of the `ROWID` designated by this `java.sql.RowId` object.

    - #### hashCode

          int hashCode()

      Returns a hash code value of this `RowId` object.
      Overrides:
        `hashCode` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        a hash code for the `RowId`
      See Also:
        `Object.equals(java.lang.Object)`, `System.identityHashCode(java.lang.Object)`

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