OLE DB (Object Linking and Embedding, Database) is a set of COM (Component Object Model) interfaces that allows applications to access data from a variety of sources in a uniform manner. It provides a way for software to interact with different types of data stores, such as relational databases, spreadsheets, and text files, without needing to know the specifics of each data source. Developed by Microsoft, OLE DB is part of the broader ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) framework. It enables developers to create applications that can retrieve and manipulate data from multiple sources, making it easier to integrate and manage data across different platforms and formats.