Database Connection Pool

In software engineering, a connection pool is a cache of database connections maintained by the database so that the connections can be reused when the database receives future requests for data. Connection pools are used to enhance the performance of executing commands on a database. Opening and maintaining a database connection for each user, especially requests made to a dynamic database-driven website application, is costly and wastes resources. In connection pooling, after a connection is created, it is placed in the pool and it is used over again so that a new connection does not have to be established. If all the connections are being used, a new connection is made and is added to the pool. Connection pooling also cuts down on the amount of time a user must wait to establish a connection to the database.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connection_pool

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/8xx3tyca.aspx