What is ADO.NET?What are the key components of ADO.NET?What are the ADO.NET namespaces?What is the meaning of object pooling?What are the differences between ADO.NET and classic ADO?Explain the architecture of ADO.NET.?What is a Connection String in ADO.NET C#??How do you establish a database connection using ADO.NET?Explain the concept of Connection Pooling in ADO.NET C#.Differentiate between Object pooling and Connection pooling in C#?What is a DataReader in ADO.NET? Explain with C# example?What is the functionality of CommandBehavior.SchemaOnly?Why CommandBehavior.SingleResult flag is used in ADO.NET?What does CommandBehavior.SingleRow do in ADO.NET?How we can get multiple results by DataReader using same connection in C#?How can we force the connection object to close after my DataReader is closed?What is a DataSet in ADO.NET? Explain with C# example?What are typed and un-typed datasets in ADO.NET C#?Write down some of the characteristic of DataSet?What is the difference between dataSet and DataReader?Why is DataSet Slower than DataReader? Explain with Example.How does DataSet handle data in a disconnected environment?What is the Difference between connected and disconnected architectire?Explain HasChanges() method of DataSet in C#.Explain GetChanges() method with detaild C# Example.Explain RejectChanges() method with C# Example.Explain AcceptChanges() method with C# Example.What are the various methods provided by DataSet for XML in C#?What is the purpose of DataAdapter in ADO.NET?Explain the steps involved in retrieving data using DataAdapter.
Previous
Next

What is ADO.NET

ADO.NET (Active Data Objects for .NET) is a data access technology in the .NET framework used for connecting to, retrieving, and manipulating data from relational databases. It provides a set of classes that facilitate data access and manipulation in a consistent and efficient manner. ADO.NET is designed to work with various data sources, including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and other databases that support ADO.NET providers.

Key components of ADO.NET include:
  1. Connection: The 'SqlConnection' class represents a connection to a database. It manages the connection to the data source and provides methods for opening, closing, and managing transactions.
  2. Command: The 'SqlCommand' class allows you to execute SQL commands (queries, stored procedures, etc.) on the database. It supports both parameterized and non-parameterized queries.
  3. DataReader: The 'SqlDataReader' class provides a forward-only, read-only stream of data from the database. It is used to efficiently read large datasets when you don't need to modify the data.
  4. DataAdapter: The 'SqlDataAdapter' class acts as a bridge between the data source and the 'DataSet'. It allows you to fill a 'DataSet' with data retrieved from the database and update the database with changes made to the DataSet.
  5. DataSet: The 'DataSet' class is an in-memory representation of the data retrieved from the database. It is a disconnected data store that can hold multiple tables, relationships, and constraints.
ADO.NET offers two models for accessing data:
  1. Connected Model: In the connected model, you explicitly open and close database connections for each database operation. Data is accessed using the SqlConnection and SqlCommand classes, and the DataReader is used to retrieve data in a read-only and forward-only manner.
  2. Disconnected Model: In the disconnected model, data is retrieved from the database and stored in a 'DataSet', which can be disconnected from the database. The DataAdapter is used to fill the DataSet with data from the database and to apply changes back to the database.

ADO.NET is widely used for data access in .NET applications, especially in scenarios where you need precise control over database interactions or when dealing with legacy systems and non-ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) data access.

Who is this course for?

Learning ADO.NET can be beneficial for the following individuals:
  1. Aspiring .NET Developers: Individuals who want to become .NET developers or work on .NET projects should consider learning ADO.NET. It provides essential data access and manipulation skills, which are crucial for building database-driven applications.
  2. Developers Working on Legacy Systems: ADO.NET is often used in legacy systems or older applications that do not use higher-level ORM frameworks. Developers working on such systems may need to maintain or enhance them using ADO.NET.
  3. Database Developers: Database developers who work closely with relational databases can benefit from learning ADO.NET to understand how data access is handled from the application layer.
  4. Desktop Application Developers: Developers building Windows Forms, WPF, or other desktop applications that interact with databases can use ADO.NET for data retrieval, updates, and manipulation.
  5. Service Application Developers: Developers working on Windows services or background tasks that require data access capabilities can leverage ADO.NET to interact with databases.
  6. Web Application Developers: Although modern web applications often use higher-level ORM frameworks like Entity Framework Core, learning ADO.NET can be useful in scenarios where direct database interactions are needed.
  7. Professionals Working with Disconnected Data: ADO.NET's DataSet and disconnected data model can be useful for professionals working with data in a disconnected manner, such as generating reports or analyzing data offline.
  8. IT Professionals Dealing with Data Integration: IT professionals involved in data integration tasks, such as moving data between different data sources, can benefit from understanding ADO.NET.
  9. Individuals Interested in Lower-Level Database Access: Developers interested in lower-level database access and control over SQL queries and database connections may find ADO.NET appealing.

Key features of ADO.NET

ADO.NET (Active Data Objects for .NET) is a data access technology in the .NET framework that provides several key features for connecting to, retrieving, and manipulating data from relational databases. Some of the key features of ADO.NET include:

  1. Connection Management:
    ADO.NET provides a robust and efficient connection management system. It allows you to establish and manage connections to various data sources, such as databases, using the SqlConnection class. You can open, close, and pool connections to optimize the data access performance.
  2. Command Execution:
    ADO.NET allows you to execute commands against the database using the SqlCommand class. It supports various types of commands, including SQL queries, stored procedures, and table direct commands. Parameterized queries can be used to prevent SQL injection attacks and improve query performance.
  3. DataReader for Efficient Data Retrieval:
    ADO.NET provides the SqlDataReader class, which is a forward-only, read-only stream of data retrieved from the database. It is optimized for performance when dealing with large datasets, as it fetches data row by row without storing the entire result set in memory.
  4. DataSet for Disconnected Data Handling:
    ADO.NET introduces the concept of a DataSet, which is an in-memory representation of data retrieved from the database. It can hold multiple tables, relationships, and constraints. The DataSet enables a disconnected data model, meaning that once data is retrieved, the connection to the database can be closed, and data can be manipulated independently of the database.
  5. DataAdapter for Data Interaction:
    The SqlDataAdapter class acts as a bridge between the DataSet and the data source. It can fill a DataSet with data from the database and update the database with changes made to the DataSet. It simplifies the process of synchronizing data between the in-memory DataSet and the actual database.
  6. Concurrency Control:
    ADO.NET supports concurrency control to manage data consistency when multiple users are accessing and updating the same data simultaneously. It uses optimistic concurrency, where changes are checked for conflicts before updating the database.
  7. Data Binding:
    ADO.NET supports data binding, allowing you to easily display data from the DataSet in controls like grids and lists. Data binding enables the automatic synchronization of UI controls with the data in the DataSet.
  8. Transaction Management:
    ADO.NET provides support for transactions to ensure data integrity. You can use transactions to group multiple database operations into a single atomic unit, ensuring that all operations succeed or fail together.
  9. Metadata and Schema Discovery:
    ADO.NET allows you to retrieve schema information and metadata about the database and its objects. This information can be used for various purposes, such as dynamically generating SQL queries or building user interfaces based on the database schema.

ADO.NET is a powerful and flexible data access technology that enables developers to interact with databases and handle data in various scenarios. It provides both connected and disconnected data models to cater to different application requirements. However, with the rise of Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) frameworks like Entity Framework Core, developers often prefer higher-level abstractions for data access in modern applications.

Which types of applications are developed by ADO.NET?

ADO.NET is primarily used for developing applications that require data access and manipulation with relational databases. The types of applications that are commonly developed using ADO.NET include:

  1. Web Applications: ADO.NET is often used in web applications to connect to relational databases and retrieve data to be displayed on web pages. It allows developers to execute SQL queries, fetch data from the database, and present it to users through web pages.
  2. Desktop Applications: ADO.NET is used in desktop applications to interact with databases and handle data operations. Desktop applications, such as Windows Forms or WPF applications, can use ADO.NET to perform data retrieval and updates.
  3. Console Applications: ADO.NET can be used in console applications to work with databases. Console applications may use ADO.NET to perform data processing tasks, generate reports, or import/export data.
  4. Service Applications: Service applications, such as Windows services or background tasks, often require data access capabilities. ADO.NET can be used in service applications to interact with databases, perform scheduled tasks, and handle data-related operations.
  5. Data Integration Applications: ADO.NET can be used in data integration applications that move data between different data sources, such as databases, files, and web services.
  6. Reporting Applications: Reporting applications that need to fetch data from databases and generate reports may use ADO.NET to execute database queries and retrieve the necessary data.
  7. Database Utilities and Tools: ADO.NET is used to build database utilities and management tools. These tools may perform tasks like database schema management, data migration, and database administration tasks.
  8. Legacy Systems Integration: ADO.NET can be used in scenarios where integration with legacy systems that use relational databases is required.

Overall, learning ADO.NET provides a foundational understanding of data access in .NET applications and equips individuals with the skills to build database-driven applications, perform data retrieval and manipulation, and ensure data consistency and integrity. While modern applications often use higher-level Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) frameworks like Entity Framework Core, ADO.NET remains relevant for specific use cases and scenarios that require more control over database interactions or when working with legacy systems.

What you will learn from this C# ADO.NET Course?

  1. Connection
  2. Command
  3. DataReader
  4. DataAdapter
  5. DataSet
  6. DataTable
  7. CommandBuilder
  8. Query Execution
  9. Data Retrieval
  10. Connected Model
  11. Disconnected Model
  12. Data Manipulation
  13. Transaction Management
  14. Data Binding
  15. Concurrency Control
  16. Optimistic Concurrency Control
  17. Direct Database Interaction
  18. Legacy System Interaction
  19. Working with Database Connections
  20. Metadata and Schema Discovery
Previous
Next