Retrieving and modifying data in ADO.NET
Applies to: 
.NET Framework
.NET
.NET Standard
A primary function of any database application is connecting to a data source and retrieving the data that it contains. The SqlClient data provider serves as a bridge between an application and a data source, allowing you to execute commands as well as to retrieve data by using a DataReader or a DataAdapter. A key function of any database application is the ability to update the data that is stored in the database. In the Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server, updating data involves using the DataAdapter and DataSet, and Command objects; and it may also involve using transactions.
In this section
Connecting to a data source
Describes how to establish a connection to a data source and how to work with connection events.
Connection strings
Contains topics describing various aspects of using connection strings, including connection string keywords, security info, and storing and retrieving them.
Connection pooling
Describes connection pooling for the Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server.
Commands and Parameters
Contains topics describing how to create commands and command builders, configure parameters, and how to execute commands to retrieve and modify data.
DataAdapters and DataReaders
Contains topics describing DataReaders, DataAdapters, parameters, handling DataAdapter events and performing batch operations.
Transactions and concurrency
Contains topics describing how to perform local transactions, distributed transactions, and work with optimistic concurrency.
Retrieving database schema information
Describes how to obtain available databases or catalogs, tables and views in a database, constraints that exist for tables, and other schema information from a data source.
DbProviderFactories
Describes the provider factory model and demonstrates how to use the base classes in the System.Data.Common namespace.
Configurable retry logic in SqlClient
Describes how to use the configurable retry logic feature when establishing a connection or executing a command.
Retrieve identity or autonumber values
Provides an example of mapping the values generated for an identity column in a SQL Server table to a column of an inserted row in a table. Discusses merging identity values in a DataTable.
Retrieve Binary Data
Describes how to retrieve binary data or large data structures using CommandBehavior.SequentialAccess to modify the default behavior of a DataReader.
Modify data with stored procedures
Describes how to use stored procedure input parameters and output parameters to insert a row in a database, returning a new identity value.
Data tracing in SqlClient
Describes how Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server provides built-in data tracing functionality.
Diagnostic counters in SqlClient
Describes diagnostic counters and available for Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server.
Asynchronous programming
Describes Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider for SQL Server support for asynchronous programming.
SqlClient streaming support
Discusses how to write applications that stream data from SQL Server without having it fully loaded in memory.