What is ADO.NET?

ADO.NET is a collection of classes that connect to a database, execute actions on the database, and retrieve data from the database. A collection of such classes is called a data provider and is used to access data from a specific data source. In addition to the fundamental classes for accessing data through a data source, the .NET Framework also provides language features and class libraries that use ADO.NET to further abstract data access.

Separates command-based and disconnected data

• Enables data to be accessed through a connection or a data set

Universal data access

• Uniform API for accessing data from different sources

Object-based data access

• Classes to connect, query and administer data sources

Data binding

• Binds a data source to ASP.NET, Windows Forms, or WPF controls

.NET Framework Data Providers

.NET Framework data providers avaliable in ADO.NET

• System.Data – All generic data access classes
• System.Data.Odbc – ODBC provider classes
• System.Data.OleDb – OLE DB provider classes
• System.Data.Oracle – Oracle provider classes
• System.Data.SqlClient – SQL Server provider classes
• System.Data.Sql.SqlTypes – SQL Server data types

ADO.NET contain .NET Framework data providers that  enable you to connect to a database, execute commands, and retrieve results.

Technologies and Techniques

• ADO.NET Application Programmin Interface (API)
• ADO.NET  Entity Framework
• Disconnected data access
• Language – Integrated Query (LINQ)