DbDataAdapter Classes

The data adapter (DbDataAdapter) classes represent a bridge between the DataSet container (covered in the previous chapter) and an underlying database. Each DbDataAdapter class provides a Fill method for filling a DataSet (or just a DataTable) with data from the database and an Update method for outputting any changes made to the data in the DataSet back to the database. Thus, unlike the DbDataReader, which provides a read-only, forward-only pointer into a result set, the DbDataAdapter reads all data in a result set into the in-memory DataSet container. The DbDataAdapter can also persist changes made to the in-memory data by writing the changes back to the database.

Tables 9.8 and 9.9 list the notable members of the DbDataAdapter classes.