---
title: "Microsoft ADO.NET for SQL Server | Microsoft Docs"
description: "Introduction to Microsoft ADO.NET for SQL Server."
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "09/30/2019"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: connectivity
ms.technology: connectivity
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.assetid: 5e467fce-7237-4678-bafa-a16f32323d0c
author: David-Engel
ms.author: v-daenge
ms.reviewer: v-kaywon
---
# Microsoft ADO.NET for SQL Server

[!INCLUDE[Driver_ADONET_Download](../../includes/driver_adonet_download.md)]

ADO.NET is the core data access technology for .NET languages. Use the Microsoft.Data.SqlClient namespace to access SQL Server, or providers from other suppliers to access their stores. Use System.Data.Odbc or System.Data.Oledb to access data from .NET languages using other data access technologies. Use System.Data.Dataset when you need an offline data cache in client applications. It also provides local persistence and XML capabilities that can be useful in web services.  
  
## Getting started  
* [Step 1: Configure development environment for ADO.NET development](step-1-configure-development-environment-ado-net-development.md)  
* [Step 2: Create a SQL database for ADO.NET development](step-2-create-sql-database-ado-net-development.md)  
* [Step 3: Proof of concept connecting to SQL using ADO.NET](step-3-connect-sql-ado-net.md)  
* [Step 4: Connect resiliently to SQL with ADO.NET](step-4-connect-resiliently-sql-ado-net.md)  
  
## Documentation  
* [ADO.NET Overview](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/e80y5yhx.aspx)
* [Getting started with the SqlClient driver](get-started-sqlclient-driver.md)  
* [Overview of the SqlClient driver](overview-sqlclient-driver.md)  
* [SQL Server and ADO.NET](./sql/index.md)
  
## Community  
* [ADO.NET Managed Providers Forum](https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/adodotnetdataproviders/threads/)  
* [ADO.NET DataSet Forum](https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/adodotnetdataset/threads)  
  
## More samples  
* [ADO.NET Code Examples](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/dw70f090.aspx)  
* [Getting Started with .NET Framework on Windows](https://www.microsoft.com/sql-server/developer-get-started/csharp/win/)
* [Getting Started with .NET Core on macOS](https://www.microsoft.com/sql-server/developer-get-started/csharp/macos/)
* [Getting Started with .NET Core on Ubuntu](https://www.microsoft.com/sql-server/developer-get-started/csharp/ubuntu/)
* [Getting Started with .NET Core on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)](https://www.microsoft.com/sql-server/developer-get-started/csharp/rhel/)