ODBC manages the exchange of data between programs and databases.

PANTHEON does not communicate with the database directly, but through ODBC.

It goes something like that:

1. PANTHEON passes a data request to ODBC (for example: all customers).
2. ODBC connects to the database server and forwards the request.
3. The database server queries the database for the requested data.
4. The database servers returns the results to ODBC.
5. ODBC forwards the results to PANTHEON.

See also ODBC Settings and Determining ODBC Version.