ADO.NET Overview

In ADO.NET, functionality is split into two key class groups — content components and managed-provider components.

The content components essentially hold actual data and include the DataSet, DataTable, DataView, DataRow, DataColumn and DataRelation classes.

We also have the managed-provider components, which actually talk to the database to assist in data retrievals and updates. Such objects include the connection, command and data reader.

Also, the managed-provider components are split into two key groups — one designed for regular data sources, with another finely tuned specifically for SQL Server.