Share via

Language-Integrated Query (LINQ)

  • Article

Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) is a set of features in Visual Studio 2008 that extends powerful query capabilities to the language syntax of C# and Visual Basic. LINQ introduces standard, easily-learned patterns for querying and updating data, and the technology can be extended to support potentially any kind of data store. Visual Studio 2008 includes LINQ provider assemblies that enable the use of LINQ with .NET Framework collections, SQL Server databases, ADO.NET Datasets, and XML documents.

In This Section

  • Introduction to LINQ
    Provides a general introduction to the kinds of applications that you can write and the kinds of problems that you can solve with LINQ queries.

  • Getting Started with LINQ in C#
    Describes the basic facts you should know in order to understand the C# documentation and samples.

  • Getting Started with LINQ in Visual Basic
    Describes the basic facts you should know in order to understand the Visual Basic documentation and samples.

  • How to: Create a LINQ Project
    Describes the .NET Framework version, references, and namespaces required to build LINQ projects.

  • Visual Studio IDE and Tools Support for LINQ
    Describes the Object Relational Designer, debugger support for queries, and other IDE features related to LINQ.

  • LINQ General Programming Guide
    Provides links to topics that include information about how to program with LINQ, such as the standard query operators, expression trees, and query providers.

  • LINQ to Objects
    Includes links to topics that explain how to use LINQ to Objects to access in-memory data structures,

  • LINQ to XML
    Includes links to topics that explain how to use LINQ to XML, which provides the in-memory document modification capabilities of the Document Object Model (DOM), and supports LINQ query expressions.

  • LINQ to ADO.NET (Portal Page)
    Provides an entry point for documentation about LINQ to DataSet and LINQ to SQL. LINQ to DataSet enables you to build richer query capabilities into DataSet by using the same query functionality that is available for other data sources. LINQ to SQL provides a run-time infrastructure for managing relational data as objects.

  • Supplementary LINQ Resources
    Links to other online sources of information about LINQ.

  • LINQ to SQL
    Explains the LINQ to SQL technology and provides links to topics that help you use LINQ to SQL.

  • LINQ to ADO.NET (Portal Page)
    Explains the LINQ to DataSet technology and provides links to topics that help you use LINQ to DataSet.

  • LINQ Samples
    Provides links to samples that demonstrates various aspects of LINQ.

See Also

Other Resources

Link to Everything: A List of LINQ Providers