In this book you learn everything you need to know about developing C# applications that access databases. If you are wondering why this is such an important topic, just consider how many applications use the functionality. At first glance, you might notice a few specialized ones such as Windows applications to view and edit human resources data or Web applications that display recent sport results. Look a bit deeper, however, and you quickly find that the vast majority of applications use database data in one form or another, even if it isn’t immediately obvious.
This book is the perfect starting point to learn about databases, and particularly about using MS SQL Server from .NET 2.0 applications written in C#. Over the course of the book, you learn the fundamentals of database technology, how the .NET Framework can be used to access databases, and how to get the most out of your code. Along the way you are presented with numerous helpful, easy-to-follow examples that demonstrate the techniques you need. Each example increases your understanding of a particular subject, and often provides you with tips and tricks that you can adapt to different contexts in the future. Each chapter also includes exercises to reinforce key concepts, the answers to which are found at the back of the book.
The main idea behind the book is to present you with a solid understanding of the basics of database access in C#. You’ll also be exposed to many possibilities for future development. You will often learn about quite complicated techniques, but they are broken into simple steps and carefully explained. These explanations provide an appreciation for what is possible, and prepare you for handling additional resources about these subjects when you’ve finished the book. And you’ll be able to do that without facing instant despair at attempting to learn about a completely new subject because you’ll already know the basics of what you are doing.