This article describes LINQ to SQL, .NET language-integrated query for relational databases.

LINQ allows defining a query in a high level query expression. The query is not executed immediately, it is a definition.

C# Example:

var q =
   from c in db.Customers
   where c.State == "CA"
   select c;

The query is executed when the application enumerates its content.

C# Example:

foreach (var cust in q)
 Console.WriteLine(cust.CompanyName);