Understanding the "Loading Class com.mysql.jdbc.Driver ... Is Deprecated" Message

When attempting to connect to a MySQL database using the old driver class com.mysql.jdbc.Driver, you may encounter an advisory message:

Loading class com.mysql.jdbc.Driver. This is deprecated. The new driver class is com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver. The driver is automatically registered via the SPI and manual loading of the driver class is generally unnecessary.

Why This Message Appears

This message is a friendly reminder that the com.mysql.jdbc.Driver class is deprecated, meaning it is no longer recommended for use. The newer and recommended driver class is com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver.

Consequences of Using the Deprecated Class

Using the deprecated class is not an error, but it could lead to potential issues in the future as it may be removed or changed in later versions.

Solution

To resolve this, simply update your code to use the new driver class:

Class.forName("com.mysql.cj.jdbc.Driver")

Automatic Driver Loading

Additionally, it's worth noting that modern JDBC versions (Java 6 and above) typically handle driver loading automatically. This means that you usually don't need to manually load the driver class using Class.forName. The required driver will be loaded based on the available JAR files in the classpath.