SQL Native Client vs. OLD DB Provider for SQL Server

Question

I have three related questions about the two OLD DB connection types listed in the subject line of this post:
1) What is the difference between them?
2) Is one newer/superior to the other?
3) If yes for question two, then why and when would I use one over the other?

Thanks in advance for any info,
John Nerge

ShannonShields · Accepted Answer

1) What is the difference between them?
2) Is one newer/superior to the other?
3) If yes for question two, then why and when would I use one over the other?

They are both OLE DB providers shipped by Microsoft. The SQL Server OLE DB driver has been deprecated for a while, in favor of the SQL Native Client, which contains both OLE DB and ODBC drivers in one. The OLE DB provider is really only available for backward compatibility.

-Shannon