Hibernate is an open-source Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) solution for Java that maps Java objects to relational database tables and simplifies the process of interacting with databases in Java applications. Here are some things that are true about Hibernate:

• Hibernate takes care of mapping Java classes to database tables using XML files and without writing any line of code.
• Hibernate provides simple APIs for storing and retrieving Java objects directly to and from the database.
• Hibernate abstracts away the unfamiliar SQL types and provides us to work around familiar Java Objects.
• Hibernate simplifies database access by abstracting away the complexities of JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) and providing an object-oriented approach to interacting with databases.
• Hibernate reduces lines of code by maintaining object-table mapping itself and returns the result to the application in the form of Java objects.
• Hibernate relieves programmers from manual handling of persistent data, hence reducing the development time and maintenance cost.
• Hibernate is not primarily used for front-end web development.

It is important to note that Hibernate is not the same as hibernation, which is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species.