SQL Basics in ADO.NET

When you interact with a data source through ADO.NET, you use SQL to retrieve, modify, and update information. In some cases, ADO.NET will hide some of the details for you or even generate required SQL statements automatically. However, to design an efficient database application with a minimal amount of frustration, you need to understand the basic concepts of SQL.
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard data access language used to interact with relational databases. Different databases differ in their support of SQL or add other features, but the core commands used to select, add, and modify data are common. In a database product such as SQL Server, it’s possible to use SQL to create fairly sophisticated SQL scripts for stored procedures and triggers (although they have little of the power of a full object-oriented programming language). When working with ADO.NET, however, you’ll probably use only the following standard types of SQL statements:
• A Select statement retrieves records.
• An Update statement modifies existing records.
• An Insert statement adds a new record.
• A Delete statement deletes existing records.
If you already have a good understanding of SQL, you can skip the next few sections.
Otherwise, read on for a quick tour of SQL fundamentals. nTip To learn more about SQL, use one of the SQL tutorials available on the Internet, such as the one at http://www.w3schools.com/sql. If you’re working with SQL Server, you can use its thorough Books
Online help to become a database guru.