The ADO.NET Object Model

ADO.NET is the overall name for the set of classes the .NET Framework provides under the System.Data namespace for working with data from multiple sources.

ADO.NET provides two distinct sets of classes: the data provider classes that enable you to directly work with a data source and the dataset- related classes that provide a memory-resident, disconnected cache of data retrieved from a data source. The data provider also serves as a conduit between the data source and the disconnected dataset.