What is the difference between DataReader, Dataset and DataAdapter ?

In this article I will explain what is the difference between DataReader, Dataset and  DataAdapter ?

DataReader

ADO.NET DataReader to retrieve a read-only, forward-only stream of data from a database. DataReader is used to iterate through resultset that came from server and it will read one record at a time because of that memory consumption will be less and it will fetch the data very fast when compared with dataset.

C# Code 

// This method is used to bind gridview from database

protected void BindGridview()

{

using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(Enter your connection string))

{

con.Open();

SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("Select UserName,LastName,Location FROM UserInformation", con);

SqlDataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader();

gvUserInfo.DataSource = dr;

gvUserInfo.DataBind();

con.Close();

}

}

DataSet

DataSet is a disconnected orient architecture that means there is no need of active connections during work with datasets and it is a collection of DataTables and relations between tables. It is used to hold multiple tables with data. You can select data form tables, create views based on table and ask child rows over relations. Also DataSet provides you with rich features like saving data as XML and loading XML data.

C# Code 

con.Open();

SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select UserName,LastName,Location from UserInformation", con);

SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);

DataSet ds = new DataSet();

da.Fill(ds);

gvUserInfo.DataSource = ds;

gvUserInfo.DataBind();

DataAdapter

DataAdapter will acts as a Bridge between DataSet and database. This dataadapter object is used to read the data from database and bind that data to dataset. Dataadapter is a disconnected oriented architecture. Check below sample code to see how to use DataAdapter in code

C# Code

con.Open();

SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select UserName,LastName,Location from UserInformation", con);

SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd);

DataSet ds = new DataSet();

da.Fill(ds);

gvUserInfo.DataSource = ds;

gvUserInfo.DataBind();