Database events are an extended feature of OpenSQL. This means that not all OpenSQL servers support database events. If an OpenSQL server supports database events, there will be a row in iidbcapabilites with a cap_capability of DBEVENTS and a cap_value of Y. To see if a particular OpenSQL server supports database events or for any restrictions, refer to the documentation for that server.

Database events enable an application or the DBMS to notify other applications that a specific event has occurred. An event is any occurrence that your application program is designed to handle. Note that support for database events is optional for OpenSQL servers.

The following diagram illustrates a typical use of database events: various applications raise database events, and the DBMS notifies a monitor (receiving) application that is registered to receive the database events.

The monitor application responds to the database events by performing the actions the application designer specified when writing the monitor application.

Database events can be raised by an application that issues the RAISE DBEVENT statement.