How can Mendix applications connect to external databases?

Mendix applications can connect to external databases primarily by utilizing database connectors or REST/SOAP services. This approach facilitates communication between the Mendix application and the external data sources effectively. Database connectors enable a direct link to various types of databases, allowing for operations such as querying or updating data directly from the Mendix environment. Additionally, using REST or SOAP web services allows Mendix to interact with external applications or services that expose their data through APIs. This level of integration is crucial for applications that need real-time access to data or require operations beyond what is available in the Mendix data model.

Webhooks serve as a mechanism for sending real-time data to Mendix applications from other services, primarily for event-driven interactions, but they don't facilitate a two-way connection to external databases. Directly embedding SQL queries, while a possible approach in some contexts, is not a supported best practice in Mendix due to potential security and maintenance issues. Relying solely on third-party middleware could limit the flexibility and efficiency of database connections by introducing additional complexity. Thus, utilizing database connectors or REST/SOAP services offers a more robust and scalable solution for integrating external databases into Mendix applications.