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ADO.NET (core data access)

ADO.NET provides consistent access to data sources such as Microsoft SQL Server and XML, as well as to data sources exposed through OLE DB and ODBC. ADO.NET is available in all versions of the .NET Framework, with additional features available in .NET 2.0 and later.

Starting with the .NET Framework 3.5, the strongly-typed Language Integrated Queries (LINQ) technology is available for working with ADO.NET through LINQ to DataSet. An even more productive LINQ experience is also available through the Entity Framework and LINQ to Entities.

Documentation

Webcasts

Introducing LINQ to DataSet (Level 200-300)

Join this session as we explore how LINQ to DataSet enables you to take advantage of the power of LINQ in your DataSet-based applications. We also demonstrate how using LINQ to DataSet can help you improve the performance and reliability of your existing code and use this exciting functionality. (61 minutes; free registration is required to view this webcast.)

Articles

ADO.NET 2.0 Feature Matrix

ADO.NET 2.0 includes an added base-class provider model, enhancements to System.Data.SqlClient, and more. Get an overview of these features and see examples of their use.

Managed Data Access Inside SQL Server with ADO.NET and SQLCLR

Using the SQLCLR feature, managed code can use ADO.NET when running inside SQL Server 2005. Learn about SQLCLR via basic scenarios of in-process data access, SQLCLR constructs, and their interactions.

Generic Coding with the ADO.NET 2.0 Base Classes and Factories
Learn more about the enhancements in ADO.NET 2.0 that enable you to create generic data access code.

Asynchronous Command Execution in ADO.NET 2.0

Get an overview of the asynchronous execution functionality in ADO.NET 2.0, the scenarios it was developed to enable, plus some of the issues to keep in mind when using this feature.

Schemas in ADO.NET 2.0

Learn about the enhanced support in ADO.NET 2.0 for accessing metadata from your data sources.

Query Notifications in ADO.NET 2.0

See how the notification technologies in ADO.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 handle ad-hoc data refreshes.

XML Data Type Support in ADO.NET 2.0: Handling XML from SQL Server 2005

See how XML support in ADO.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 work together to make handling XML data in your applications easier.

Tracing Data Access
Apply the tracing functionality in ADO.NET 2.0 and SQL Native Client to track down bugs and bottlenecks in your applications.

DataSet Features in ADO.NET 2.0

Get performance enhancements and improved functionality in the .NET Framework 2.0 DataSet class, and in the closely related DataTable and DataView classes.