What is LINQ?

LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is uniform query syntax in C# and VB.NET to retrieve data from different sources and formats. Language Integrated means it is a part of language. 

SQL is a Structured Query Language used to save and retrieve data from a database. In the same way, LINQ is a structured query syntax built in C# and VB.NET to retrieve data from different types of data sources such as collections, ADO.Net DataSet, XML Docs, web service and MS SQL Server and other databases.

• LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query. 
• LINQ is developed by Microsoft and is available in System.Linq namespace.
• LINQ is uniform query syntax which can be applied on different data source. 
• LINQ offers a compact, expressive, and intelligible syntax for manipulating data.
•  LINQ was introduced in .Net framework 3.5 and C# 3.0.
• LINQ queries return results as objects.

EXAMPLE OF LINQ QUERY

using System;

using System.Linq;

public class Program

{

public static void Main()

{

// Data source

string[] names = {"Harry", "John", "Peter"};

        

// LINQ Query 

                var myLinqQuery =  from name in names

                               where name.Contains('r')

                        select name;

        

// Query execution

                foreach (var name in myLinqQuery)

                    Console.Write(name + " ");

  }

}