The "Bin" in the filename typically refers to the binary distribution, specifically mysql-connector-java-5.1.7-bin.jar . Key Features (at release)
Supports auto-loading of the driver class via the java.sql.Driver service provider mechanism. Mysql Connector Java 5.1.7 Bin
In its prime, it was highly regarded for being a "pure Java" implementation, meaning it didn't require native MySQL client libraries to function. The "Bin" in the filename typically refers to
Introduced better support for NCHAR , NVARCHAR , and NCLOB types. Mysql Connector Java 5.1.7 Bin
This version (released around 2009) included bug fixes carried over from the 5.0.x series, specifically improving SQLException categorization and auto-registration with the Driver Manager.