Java JDBC with jtds example. 1. Open SQL Configuration Manager to make sure that TCP/IP is enabled and IP/All port is 1433. 2. Open 'Service' to make sure SQL server browser is started. 3. Open SQL Management Studio to make sure user has the permission to access.

Main.java

// If you cannot connect with SQL server(express), you can check here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10522120/connecting-to-local-ms-sql-server
package com.example.jtdsexample;

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.ResultSet;
import java.sql.SQLException;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new Main().start();
    }

    private void start() {
        System.out.println("START");
        String query = "SELECT * FROM Fruits";
        ResultSet rs = getData(query);
        try {
            while (rs.next()) {
                System.out.println(rs.getString("name"));
            }
        } catch (SQLException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        System.out.println("END");
    }

    public ResultSet getData(String query) {
        Connection CON = null;
        try {
            Class.forName("net.sourceforge.jtds.jdbc.Driver");
            CON = DriverManager.getConnection(URL, USER, PASS);
            RESULT = CON.createStatement().executeQuery(query);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            ex.printStackTrace();
        }
        return RESULT;
    }
    private String URL = "jdbc:jtds:sqlserver://localhost:1433/Sample;instance=SQLEXPRESS;";
    private String USER = "sampleuser";
    private String PASS = "sampleuser";
    private static ResultSet RESULT;
}