Connection object as an instance or local variable?

From: relaxedrob_at_optushome.com.au (relaxedrob_at_optusnet.com.au)
Date: 10/07/04 

Date: 6 Oct 2004 20:20:04 -0700

Hi All!

I have a 'data manager class' that has a bunch of methods a bit like
this:

public Hotel [] getHotels()
{
  // Open a connection to the database.
  // Execute sql command.
  // Format results as a Hotel array.
  // Close database connection.
  // Return array.
}

Is it a better design to have the connection object as an instance
variable or leave it as a local variable in this case?

As an instance variable:
- may put less load on the database.
- allow me to keep a 'one client, one connection' paradigm.
- but I may need to synchronize access to the connection.
- I would have to expose a 'close()' method which doesn't really fit
the contract of a data manager (which should hide the fact that it may
or may not use a database) or:
- I put the connection closing code in a finalize() method or;
- use a thread run method somehow?

As a local variable:
- 'heavy' usage on the database.
- lots of over head for my application opening and closing all the
time..

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Rob
:)

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