Hibernate

Hibernate is the ORM tool given to transfer the data between a java (object) application and a database (Relational) in the form of the objects. Hibernate is the open source light weight tool given by Gavin King, actually JBoss server is also created by gavin king.

Hibernate is a non-invasive framework, means it wont forces the programmers to extend/implement any class/interface, and in hibernate we have all POJO classes so its light weight.

Hibernate can runs with in or with out server, i mean it will suitable for all types of java applications (stand alone or desktop or any servlets bla bla.)

Hibernate is purely for persistence (to store/retrieve data from Database).