Introduction to ADO.
NET in Enterprise
Application Development
�What is ADO.NET?
ADO.NET stands for ActiveX Data Objects for .NET. It is a
part of the .NET Framework that allows applications to
communicate with databases.
In Enterprise Application Development, ADO.NET is used to
connect, retrieve, insert, update, and delete data from large
databases that are part of business applications.
� Why is ADO.NET Important in Enterprise Applications?
Enterprise applications usually:
Handle large amounts of data
Need fast and secure database access
Are multi-user systems
Store data in centralized databases (like SQL Server,
Oracle, etc.)
ADO.NET provides the tools to manage this data efficiently
and securely.
� Key Features of ADO.NET
Feature Description
SqlConnection Connects to the database
SqlCommand Runs SQL queries (SELECT, INSERT, etc.)
SqlDataReader Reads data quickly (forward-only)
DataSet / Stores data in memory (for disconnected
DataTable access)
SqlDataAdapter Bridges data between DataSet and database
� How ADO.NET Fits in Enterprise Architecture
In 3-tier architecture (which is common in enterprise apps):
1. Presentation Layer – UI (like ASP.NET, Windows
Forms)
2. Business Logic Layer – Processes data (C#, VB.NET)
3. Data Access Layer (DAL) – Uses ADO.NET to interact
with the database
� ADO.NET is used in the Data Access Layer to get and save
data.
� Example Scenario
Let’s say you’re building a student management system for a
university. ADO.NET will:
Fetch student records from the database
Save new admissions
Update fee payments
Delete old records
All of this is done using C# code and SQL queries through
ADO.NET.
� Security & Performance
ADO.NET supports:
Parameterized queries to prevent SQL Injection
Connection pooling for better performance
Disconnected data access using DataSet for less load on
the database
� Conclusion
In Enterprise Application Development, ADO.NET is essential
for:
Reliable data access
Smooth communication between application and database
Building scalable, secure, and maintainable enterprise-level
systems
Introduction to ADO.NET: SQL Injection
� What is SQL Injection?
SQL Injection is a security problem where a hacker enters
harmful input that changes the meaning of a database query.
This can let them:
Log in without a password
View private data
Even delete or change important records
� Why It’s Important in Enterprise Apps?
Enterprise applications usually:
Store sensitive data (like employee info, bank records,
etc.)
Are used by many users
Need high-level security
If SQL Injection is not stopped, hackers can damage the whole
system.
� Unsafe ADO.NET Example (Vulnerable to SQL Injection)
string query = "SELECT * FROM Users WHERE Username = '" + userInput + "'";
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, con);
If someone enters this:
' OR '1'='1
The query becomes:
SELECT * FROM Users WHERE Username = '' OR '1'='1'
� This gives access to all users, even without a valid
username!
� How to Prevent SQL Injection in ADO.NET
We can stop SQL injection by using parameterized queries.
� Safe Example:
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Users WHERE
Username = @username", con);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@username", userInput);
Here:
@username is a parameter (placeholder)
ADO.NET safely puts user input in the query
It will not be executed as SQL code
� Best Practices in Enterprise Applications
1. Always use parameterized queries
2. Never build SQL using + (string concatenation)
3. Validate and clean user input
4. Test the app against SQL injection attacks
� Conclusion
In Enterprise Application Development, security is very
important.
ADO.NET helps keep your database safe if you:
Use parameterized queries
Follow secure coding practices
SQL Injection is dangerous but easy to prevent with the right
approach.
Introduction to ADO.NET: Parameterized
Queries
� What Are Parameterized Queries?
Parameterized Queries are a safe way to send data to the
database using ADO.NET.
Instead of adding user input directly into the SQL query (which
is dangerous), we use placeholders (parameters) that are filled
with data safely.
� Problem with Plain Queries
When we write a query like this:
string query = "SELECT * FROM Users WHERE Username =
'" + userInput + "'";
If someone enters:
' OR '1'='1
The query becomes:
SELECT * FROM Users WHERE Username = '' OR '1'='1'
� This is called SQL Injection and it’s dangerous — it can
give unauthorized access to the system.
� Solution: Use Parameterized Queries
ADO.NET allows us to fix this using parameters:
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM
Users WHERE Username = @username", con);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@username", userInput);
� Here:
@username is a placeholder in the query
AddWithValue safely assigns the value
Even if the user enters harmful input, it will be treated as
data, not code
� Why Parameterized Queries Are Important in Enterprise
Apps
� Security – Prevents SQL Injection
� Performance – Runs faster with repeated queries
� Cleaner Code – Easy to read and manage
� Reliable – Handles data types correctly
� Example: Insert with Parameters
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("INSERT INTO
Students (Name, Age) VALUES (@name, @age)", con);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", "Ali");
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@age", 21);
This inserts a new student safely into the database.
� In Simple Words:
"Parameterized queries protect your database like a filter, only
allowing clean, safe input from users."
� Conclusion
In Enterprise Application Development, using ADO.NET with
parameterized queries is a best practice.
It helps you build secure, professional, and scalable
applications.
