# Using the databaseName attribute

You can use a `databaseName` attribute on a database connection URL to specify the path name of the database to which you want to connect.

    jdbc:derby:;databaseName=databaseName

You can access read-only databases in jar or zip files by specifying `jar` as the subsubprotocol, like this:

    jdbc:derby:jar:(pathToArchive)databasePathWithinArchive

Or, if the jar or zip file has been included in the classpath, like this:

    jdbc:derby:classpath:databasePathWithinArchive

The path separator in the path name is a forward slash (`/`), even in Windows path names. The path name cannot contain a colon (`:`), except for the colon after the drive name in a Windows path name. See Conventions for specifying the database path name for more information.

Parent topic: Working with the database connection URL attributes
Related tasks
Shutting down Derby or an individual database
Creating and accessing a database
Providing a user name and password
Specifying attributes in a properties object