Summary

In this chapter, we examined what types of objects could be used as a DataSource. This includes DataSets, DataReaders, arrays, and collections. More generally, any class that implements the IEnumerable interface is a candidate for being a DataSource. This fact was demonstrated when we built a custom class that implemented the IEnumerable interface, and then used this class as the DataSource for the DataList control.

We also took an intimate look at what happens with each of the data Web controls when the DataBind() method is called. By examining the way templates are handled in the DataBind() call, we arrived at a better understanding of the data-binding syntax than we've seen thus far in Repeater and DataList templates.

Up to this point, the HTML output of our data Web controls has been anything but exciting. However, the DataGrid and DataList contain numerous properties geared solely toward improving the aesthetic appearance. We'll delve into these properties in the next chapter. We'll also examine more powerful ways in which templates can be used to produce a higher degree of customized output!