What Is the DataSet Object Really For?

The DataSet object represents an in-memory cache of data and is the critical object that gets passed between the middle tier and the client application (for example, a Microsoft Windows Forms application) or between the middle-tier and the Web Services layer. DataSet objects easily and efficiently serialize themselves into and out of XML. This means that data, as well as the related schema information, can be moved between tiers in a loosely coupled manner.

A Windows Forms application that receives a DataSet object can take full advantage of it. Data is cached on the client and, unless you need a current copy of the data, you can sort, page, and filter the data without accessing the database server. Add ...

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