The SqlDataAdapter, serves as a bridge between a DataSet and SQL Server for retrieving and saving data. The SqlDataAdapter provides this bridge by mapping Fill, which changes the data in the DataSet to match the data in the data source, and Update, which changes the data in the data source to match the data in the DataSet, using the appropriate Transact-SQL statements against the data source.

When the SqlDataAdapter fills a DataSet, it creates the necessary tables and columns for the returned data if they do not already exist. However, primary key information is not included in the implicitly created schema unless the MissingSchemaAction property is set to AddWithKey. You may also have the SqlDataAdapter create the schema of the DataSet, including primary key information, before filling it with data using FillSchema. For more information, see Adding Existing Constraints to a DataSet.

SqlDataAdapter is used in conjunction with SqlConnection and SqlCommand to increase performance when connecting to a SQL Server database.

The SqlDataAdapter also includes the SelectCommand, InsertCommand, DeleteCommand, UpdateCommand, and TableMappings properties to facilitate the loading and updating of data.

When an instance of SqlDataAdapter is created, the read/write properties are set to initial values. For a list of these values, see the SqlDataAdapter constructor.

The following example uses the SqlCommand, SqlDataAdapter, and SqlConnection to select records from a database and populate a DataSet with the selected rows. The filled DataSet is then returned. To accomplish this, the method is passed an initialized DataSet, a connection string, and a query string that is a Transact-SQL SELECT statement.

Public Function SelectRows( _
    ByVal dataSet As DataSet, ByVal connectionString As String, _
    ByVal queryString As String) As DataSet

    Using connection As New SqlConnection(connectionString)
        Dim adapter As New SqlDataAdapter()
        adapter.SelectCommand = New SqlCommand( _
            queryString, connection)
        adapter.Fill(dataSet)
        Return dataSet
    End Using
End Function

private static DataSet SelectRows(DataSet dataset,
    string connectionString,string queryString) 
{
    using (SqlConnection connection = 
        new SqlConnection(connectionString))
    {
        SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter();
        adapter.SelectCommand = new SqlCommand(
            queryString, connection);
        adapter.Fill(dataset);
        return dataset;
    

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.

.NET Framework

.NET Compact Framework