Data Namespaces in Visual Studio

The data and XML namespaces in the .NET Framework include:

• System.Data - consists of the classes that constitute the ADO.NET architecture, which is the primary data access method for managed applications. The ADO.NET architecture enables you to build components that efficiently manage data from multiple data sources. ADO.NET also provides the tools to request, update, and reconcile data in distributed applications.

• System.Data.Common - contains classes shared by the .NET Framework data providers. Data providers describe a collection of classes used to access a data source, such as a database, in the managed space.

• System.Xml - classes that provide standards-based support for processing XML.

• System.Data.OleDb – classes that make up the .NET Framework Data Provider for OLE DB-compatible data sources. These classes allow you to connect to an OLE DB data source, execute commands against the source, and read the results.

• System.Data.SqlClient – classes that make up the .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server, which allows you to connect to SQL Server 7.0, execute commands, and read results. The System.Data.SqlClient namespace is similar to the System.Data.OleDb namespace, but is optimized for access to SQL Server 7.0 and later.

• System.Data.Sql - classes that support SQL Server-specific functionality.

• System.Data.SqlTypes - Provides classes for native data types within SQL Server. These classes provide a safer, faster alternative to other data types.

• Microsoft.SqlServer.Server - classes, interfaces, and enumerations that are specific to the integration of the Microsoft .NET Framework common language runtime (CLR) into Microsoft SQL Server, and the SQL Server database engine process execution environment.

• System.Data.Odbc - classes that make up the .NET Framework Data Provider for ODBC. These classes allow you to access ODBC data source in the managed space.

• System.Data.OracleClient - classes that make up the .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle. These classes allow you to access an Oracle data source in the managed space.

• System.Transactions - classes that allow you to write your own transactional application and resource manager. Specifically, you can create and participate in a transaction (local or distributed) with one or multiple participants.

Related Sections

• Accessing Data
  Provides conceptual and procedural information about how to work with data and XML with Visual Basic and Visual C#.

• Creating Client Data Applications
  Provides an overview of data access in Visual Studio applications.

• Data Walkthroughs
  Lists step-by-step topics covering common data scenarios.

• Retrieving and Modifying Data in ADO.NET
  Provides topics about creating and working with connection objects in Visual Studio.

• DataSets, DataTables, and DataViews (ADO.NET)
  Provides topics about what datasets are and how to use them.

• ADO.NET Data Adapters
  Provides topics about defining the SQL statement or stored procedure calls that you use to fill datasets and write data back to the database.

• Displaying Data on Forms in Windows Applications
  Provides topics that explain how to display data on Windows Forms through data-bound controls.

• Relationships in ADO.NET Datasets
  Provides topics about working with dataset tables that have a parent-child relationship.

• Overview of Visual Database Tools
  Provides topics about how to execute SQL statements and stored procedures directly and work with the results they return.

• Concurrency Control in ADO.NET
  Provides topics about making changes in datasets and then writing those changes back to a data source.

• Introduction to the .NET Framework Class Library in Visual Studio
  Provides an overview of the namespaces in the .NET Framework.

• Recommendations for Data Access Strategies
  Helps you choose a data-access technology.

• XML in Visual Studio
  Provides links to sections of the Visual Studio documentation that discuss XML.

• System.Transactions Integration with SQL Server (ADO.NET)
  Describes ways to use the transactions framework provided by the System.Transactions namespace.

• XML Schema Reference (XSD)
  Provides reference topics for elements and data types in XML Schema, the standard developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

• XML Developer Centre on MSDN Online
  Provides the latest articles and other resources about XML.

• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Site
  Provides resources about Internet standards, including XML Schema, HTML, and HTTP.

See Also

Other Resources

.NET Framework Class Library in Visual Studio