# Using ij

`ij` is Derby's interactive JDBC scripting tool. It is a simple utility for running scripts or interactive queries against a Derby database.

`ij` is a Java application, which you start from a command window such as a Windows command prompt or a UNIX shell. `ij` provides several non-SQL commands for ease in accessing a variety of JDBC features for testing.

- Starting ij
  Derby provides batch and shell scripts for users in Windows and UNIX environments that can be used to start ij.
- Creating a database using ij
  You can create a Derby database from within the ij tool.
- Starting ij using properties
  You can set ij properties in any of the following ways.
- Getting started with ij
  This section discusses the use of the ij tool.