# Environments in which Derby can run

Before you configure your system to run Derby, it is useful to understand something about the different environments in which Derby can run, because these environments affect the classpath, driver name, and database connection URL.

See the Derby Developer's Guide for more information on Derby environments.

- Embedded environment
  An embedded environment is an environment in which only a single application can access a database at one time, and no network access occurs.
- Client/server environment
  A client/server environment is an environment in which multiple applications connect to Derby over the network.

Parent topic: Quick start guide for experienced JDBC users