System.Data.DataTable Class

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Summary

The DataTable class represents an in-memory table of data. It provides methods for creating, accessing, and managing columns, rows, constraints, and relationships.

Syntax

public sealed class DataTable : MarshalByValueComponent, IListSource, ISupportInitialize, ISerializable, IXmlSerializable

Members

Properties

Methods

Events

Name	Type	Description
Columns	DataColumnCollection	Gets the collection that contains the columns of the table.
Rows	DataRowCollection	Gets the collection that contains the rows of the table.
TableName	string	The name of the table.
PrimaryKey	DataColumn[]	An array of columns that function as primary keys for the table.

Name	Signature	Description
AcceptChanges	void AcceptChanges()	Commits all the changes made to the table since it was loaded or since the last time `AcceptChanges` was called.
Load	void Load(IDataReader)	Populates a `DataTable` with values from a data source using an `IDataReader`.
NewRow	DataRow NewRow()	Creates a new `DataRow` with the same schema as the table.

Name	Delegate	Description
RowChanging	DataRowChangeEventHandler	Occurs before a row changes.
RowChanged	DataRowChangeEventHandler	Occurs after a row has changed.
RowDeleting	DataRowChangeEventHandler	Occurs before a row is deleted.
RowDeleted	DataRowChangeEventHandler	Occurs after a row has been deleted.

Example

using System;
using System.Data;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Create a new DataTable.
        DataTable table = new DataTable("Employees");

        // Add columns.
        table.Columns.Add("Id", typeof(int));
        table.Columns.Add("Name", typeof(string));
        table.Columns.Add("HireDate", typeof(DateTime));

        // Define a primary key.
        table.PrimaryKey = new DataColumn[] { table.Columns["Id"] };

        // Add rows.
        table.Rows.Add(1, "Alice", DateTime.Parse("2020-01-15"));
        table.Rows.Add(2, "Bob", DateTime.Parse("2021-06-30"));

        // Display the data.
        foreach (DataRow row in table.Rows)
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"{row["Id"]}: {row["Name"]} (Hired {row["HireDate"]:d})");
        }
    }
}

Remarks

The DataTable class is a central component of ADO.NET and can be used both with disconnected data patterns as well as in conjunction with DataSet. It supports constraints, relationships, and data-binding to UI controls.