LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a set of language extensions for the Microsoft .NET Framework that allows developers to perform queries on data sources using a syntax similar to SQL. It supports querying data in a variety of formats, including arrays, lists, databases, and XML documents. LINQ was introduced in the .NET Framework version 3.5 and is available in C# and Visual Basic. LINQ makes it easier to write data access code and provides a consistent way to query and manipulate data, regardless of its source.
LINQ queries are composed of a series of operators that can be chained together to filter, transform, and shape data.
- The “From” operator specifies the data source for the query. This can be an array, list, or any other collection that implements the IEnumerable interface.
- The “Where” operator is used to filter the data based on a certain condition. It returns only the elements that match the specified condition.
- The “Select” operator is used to project the data into a new form. It allows you to select only the properties or fields that you are interested in and create a new collection of the results.
- The “OrderBy” operator is used to sort the data based on a certain property or field. It returns the data in ascending order by default, but can also be used with the “OrderByDescending” operator to sort in descending order.