When trying to connect, java.lang.ClassNotFoundException;

Question

I can't seem to resolve this error:
SearchServlet.java [48:1] unreported exception java.lang.ClassNotFoundException; must be caught or declared to be thrown
db.connect();
^
=========The error is in the following Servlet:
SinglesSearch.Database db=new SinglesSearch.Database();
db.connect(); //this line throws the exception
=========
I've searched the web for servlets connecting to the database, but couldn't find anything that would help me figure out this issue.
Can you help ?
thanks,
Dennis
P.S.
My database helper class.
* Database.java
package SinglesSearch;
import java.sql.*;
import java.io.*;
public class Database {
//Helper Class -- Takes care of DB connections and SQL
/** Creates a new instance of Database */
public String dbURL = "jdbc:mysql://localhost/singles";
public String dbDriver = "com.mysql.jdbc.Driver";
private Connection dbCon;
public Database() {
super();
public boolean connect() throws ClassNotFoundException,SQLException
{ //Connect to DB
Class.forName(dbDriver);
dbCon = DriverManager.getConnection(dbURL,"test", "test");
return true;
public void close() throws SQLException
{ //Close connection to DB
dbCon.close();

Answer 1

Why is writing a servlet is so tough ?
It seems it must be simpler. .. I mean I had to specify every last exception handling.
I mean compare these 4 lines:
Class.forName(dbDriver);
dbCon = DriverManager.getConnection(dbURL,"xxx", "xxx");
Statement stmt= dbCon.createStatement();
ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery(sql);
To the monster (in P.S.) I had to write, just for the thing to compile !!
Is that supposed to be like that ? Or am I missing something ?
thanks,
Dennis
P.S.
//Start connection to the database
Connection dbCon=null;
Statement stmt=null;
try {
Class.forName("com.mysql.jdbc.Driver");
} catch(ClassNotFoundException cne) {
//Exception handling here
out.println(cne);
try {
dbCon = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost/singles","singles", "zaq123");
} catch(SQLException sqle) {
out.println(sqle);
ResultSet rs = null ;
try {
stmt= dbCon.createStatement(); }
catch(SQLException cne) {
out.println(cne);
try { rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT libnum FROM profiles"); }
catch(SQLException cne) {
out.println(cne);
if (rs == null)
out.println("<P>NOTHING in the database</P>");
else
try {
while(rs.next())
out.println("<BR>");
out.println( rs.getString("libnum") );
} catch(SQLException cne) {
out.println(cne);
}