java.sql.Connection

Attention: Derby Version 10.2 includes JDBC 4.0 functionality based on a pre-release of Java SE 6. When you use Derby with a Java SE 6 virtual machine, Derby will use its JDBC 3.0 drivers, just as with 1.4 and 1.5 virtual machines. JDBC 4.0 is available only to developers who download Java SE 6 and use it to build in support for JDBC 4.0. The Release Notes explain how to build the JDBC 4.0 functionality with Derby Version 10.2. A follow-on Derby release will include JDBC 4.0 functionality based on the final JDBC 4.0 specification once Java SE 6 becomes generally available.

JDBC 4.0 adds new capabilities to Connections:

LOB creation - New methods, createBlob() and createClob() let you create empty Blobs and Clobs, which you can then fill up before stuffing into a column.
Ease of development - JDBC 4.0 introduces DataSet, a simple mechanism to iterate through a table. You obtain a DataSet by passing an annotated query to your Connection's createQueryObject method.
Validity tracking - The isValid method tells you whether your Connection is still alive.