VB.NET ADO.NET Dataset Tutorial

The ADO.NET DataSet is a powerful component that represents a collection of data retrieved from a data source. It is a key part of the disconnected data architecture in ADO.NET. The DataSet consists of a DataTableCollection, which holds multiple DataTable objects, and a DataRelationCollection, which defines the relationships between the DataTables.

DataTableCollection

The DataTableCollection within the DataSet allows you to store and manipulate multiple tables of data. Each DataTable represents a specific table with its own columns and rows. You can add, remove, and modify data within the DataTables, perform sorting and filtering operations, and apply constraints to enforce data integrity.

DataRelationCollection

The DataRelationCollection enables you to define relationships between the DataTables within the DataSet. This allows you to establish parent-child relationships, enforce referential integrity, and navigate between related data.

DataSet

The DataSet is commonly used in conjunction with the DataAdapter class. The DataAdapter acts as a bridge between the DataSet and the data source, facilitating data retrieval and updates. It populates the DataSet with data from the data source and updates the data source with changes made to the DataSet.

One of the key advantages of using a DataSet is its disconnected nature. Once the data is retrieved and stored in the DataSet, the connection to the data source can be closed, and the data can be manipulated and displayed without being dependent on the database connection. This provides flexibility and scalability in managing data in disconnected scenarios, such as in web applications or when working with distributed systems.