LINQ to DataSet

Abstract

In this chapter, we looked at the DataSet class and its relationship with LINQ. If you want some of the convenience of a managed data environment but don’t want the overhead of the Entity Framework, then the DataSet functionality may be of use, especially given the support for in-memory queries that comes with LINQ to DataSet.

When using DataSet, you have to be much more aware of the structure and content of the database than when using an entity model, but in return you gain finer-grained control over the operations and queries that are performed. The approach that a project demands will depend on individual circumstances, but as you have seen from this and the preceding chapter, C# and .NET give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to working with databases.