What is the Best Way to Return Connection Objects to a HikariCP Connection Pool?

What is the Best Way to Return Connection Objects to a HikariCP Connection Pool?

// Returning a connection to HikariCP pool is automatic when you call try-with-resources:
try (Connection conn = dataSource.getConnection()) {
    // Use the connection here
} // Automatically returned to the pool here

HikariCP is a highly performant JDBC connection pool designed for speed and reliability. Properly managing connection objects is crucial in ensuring optimal performance of your Java applications. This guide outlines the best practices for returning connection objects to HikariCP, including using try-with-resources and handling exceptions effectively.

// Example of using try-with-resources to return connection to HikariCP pool:
public void executeDatabaseOperation() {
    try (Connection conn = dataSource.getConnection()) {
        // Your database operations here
    } catch (SQLException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

Causes

• Failure to close connections can lead to memory leaks.
• Incorrect exception handling may cause connections to remain open.
• Overusing connection objects without returning them can exhaust the pool.

Solutions

• Utilize try-with-resources statement to manage connections automatically.
• Always wrap connection retrievals in a try-catch block to handle exceptions gracefully.
• Return connections promptly after their use.

Mistake: Failing to close the connection leads to resource leaks.

Solution: Always use try-with-resources to ensure the connection is closed automatically.

Mistake: Using the connection object outside of the try block.

Solution: Make sure all operations that require the connection are contained within the try block.