The document introduces the R2DBC (Reactive Relational Database Connectivity) connector for reactive programming with MariaDB, emphasizing its non-blocking nature and the importance of reactive programming in developing high-efficiency applications. It outlines the principles and goals of R2DBC, including seamless integration into reactive JVM platforms and vendor-neutral access to features, and explains the service-provider interface (SPI) designed to overcome limitations of JDBC. The document also provides a brief overview of setting up connections and executing SQL commands using R2DBC.