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How to call the Java runtime in SQL Server Language Extensions

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Applies to: SQL Server 2019 (15.x) and later versions

The SQL Server Language Extensions feature uses the sp_execute_external_script system stored procedure as the interface to call the Java runtime.

This how-to article explains implementation details for Java classes and methods that execute on SQL Server.

Where to place Java classes

There are two methods for calling Java classes in SQL Server:

  1. Place .class or .jar files in your Java classpath.

  2. Upload compiled classes in a .jar file and other dependencies into the database using the external library DDL.

Note

As a general recommendation, use .jar files and not individual .class files. This is common practice in Java and will make the overall experience easier. See also, Create a Java .jar file from class files.

Use Classpath

Basic principles

The following are some basic principles when executing Java on SQL Server.

  • Compiled custom Java classes must exist in .class files or .jar files in your Java classpath. The CLASSPATH parameter provides the path to the compiled Java files.

  • The Java method you're calling must be provided in the script parameter on the stored procedure.

  • If the class belongs to a package, the packageName must be provided.

  • params is used to pass parameters to a Java class. Calling a method that requires arguments isn't supported. Therefore, parameters are the only way to pass argument values to your method.

Note

This note restates supported and unsupported operations specific to Java in SQL Server 2019 (15.x) and later versions. On the stored procedure, input parameters are supported, while output parameters aren't supported.

Call Java class

The sp_execute_external_script system stored procedure is the interface used to call the Java runtime. The following example shows an sp_execute_external_script using the Java extension, and parameters for specifying path, script, and your custom code.

Note

You don't need to define which method to call. By default, a method called execute is called. This means that you need to follow the Microsoft Extensibility SDK for Java for SQL Server and implement an execute method in your Java class.

DECLARE @param1 INT

SET @param1 = 3

EXEC sp_execute_external_script @language = N'Java',
    @script = N'<packageName>.<ClassName>',
    @input_data_1 = N'<Input Query>',
    @param1 = @param1;

Set CLASSPATH

Once you compile your Java class or classes, and created a .jar file in your Java classpath, you have two options for providing the path to the SQL Server Java extension:

  1. Use external libraries

    The easiest option is to make SQL Server automatically find your classes by creating external libraries and pointing the library to a jar. Use external libraries for Java

  2. Register a system environment variable

    You can create a system environment variable and provide the paths to your .jar file that contains the classes. Create a system environment variable called CLASSPATH.

Use external library

In SQL Server 2019 (15.x) and later versions, you can use external libraries for the Java language on Windows and Linux. You can compile your classes into a .jar file and upload the .jar file and other dependencies into the database using the CREATE EXTERNAL LIBRARY DDL.

Example of how to upload a .jar file with external library:

CREATE EXTERNAL LIBRARY myJar
FROM (CONTENT = '<local path to .jar file>')
WITH (LANGUAGE = 'Java');
GO

When it creates an external library, SQL Server automatically has access to the Java classes, and you don't need to set any special permissions to the classpath.

The following code is an example of calling a method in a class from a package, uploaded as an external library:

EXEC sp_execute_external_script
    @language = N'Java',
    @script = N'MyPackage.MyCLass',
    @input_data_1 = N'SELECT * FROM MYTABLE'
WITH RESULT SETS((column1 INT));

For more information, see CREATE EXTERNAL LIBRARY.

Loopback connection to SQL Server

Use a loopback connection to connect back to SQL Server over JDBC to read or write data from Java executed from sp_execute_external_script. You can use this when using the InputDataSet and OutputDataSet arguments of sp_execute_external_script aren't possible. To make a loopback connection in Windows use the following example:

jdbc:sqlserver://localhost:1433;databaseName=Adventureworks;integratedSecurity=true;

To make a loopback connection in Linux the JDBC driver requires three connection properties defined in the following Certificate:

Client-Certificate-Authentication

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