ADO ( or ActiveX® Data Objects ) is an easy-to-use technology developed by Microsoft® for adding database connectivity to Web pages.
ADO.NET is the next generation of ADO, providing an enhanced interface for accessing, manipulating, and exchanging data in the Microsoft .NET Framework.
ADO.NET is essentially a collection of classes that expose methods and attributes used to manage communications between an application and a data store.
An integral part of the .NET Framework, ADO.NET simplifies a variety of development needs, including the creation of front-end database clients and middle-tier business objects used in distributed, data-intensive applications.
Whilst retaining some of the key concepts evolved from previous ADO models, ADO.NET has been largely expanded to provide access to structured data from diverse sources, that are all accommodated in a consistent, standardized programming model.
ADO.NET can be used in any consumer application that needs to work with data sources such as Microsoft SQL Server™, as well as data sources exposed via OLE DB and XML.
NOTE: OLE DB is a system-level programming interface that provides a standard set of interfaces for exposing database management system functionality.
ADO.NET exposes a simple object model that conforms to the standards prescribed by the World Wide Web Consortium ( W3C ).
The ADO.NET interface is readily accessible using any of the .NET-compliant languages, including C#, Visual Basic .Net, and JScript .Net.
The following sections briefly walk through the key concepts that cover the basic techniques for accessing and displaying data in Web Forms pages.