Using a Data Service in a .NET Framework Application (ADO.NET Data Services)
Any application can interact with ADO.NET Data Services if it can send an HTTP request and process the response in the format that a data service returns. This interoperability enables you to access data services from a broad range of Web-based applications. ADO.NET Data Services also includes client libraries that provide a richer programming experience when you access data services from .NET Framework or Silverlight-based applications. These libraries work well for end-to-end solutions that use .NET Framework-based client applications, such as corporate networks and Intranet environments. However, using .NET Framework client libraries to access the data service does not prevent non-.NET Framework applications from accessing the data service.
The two main classes of the client library are the DataServiceContext class and the DataServiceQuery class. The DataServiceContext class encapsulates operations that are supported against a specified data service. Although data services are stateless, the context is not. Therefore, you can use the DataServiceContext class to maintain state on the client between interactions with the data service in order to support features such as change management. This class also manages identities and tracks changes. The DataServiceQuery class represents a query against a specific entity set.
This section describes how to use client libraries to access and change data from a .NET Framework client application.
In This Section
Generating the Data Service Client Library (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to generate a client library and client data service classes that are based on a data service.Querying the Data Service (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to query a data service from a .NET Framework-based application by using client libraries.Loading Deferred Content (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to load additional content not included in the initial query response.Updating the Data Service (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to create, modify, and delete entities and relationships by using the client libraries.Asynchronous Operations (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes the facilities provided by the client libraries for working with a data service in an asynchronous manner.Batching Operations (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to send multiple requests to the data service in a single batch by using the client libraries.Binding Data to Controls (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to bind controls to data returned by a data service.Working with Binary Data (ADO.NET Data Services)
Describes how to access and change binary data returned by the data service as a data stream.
Related Sections
Client Applications for Silverlight (ADO.NET Data Services/Silverlight)
See Also
Other Resources
Defining a Data Service (ADO.NET Data Services)