ADO.NET is the primary data access model for Microsoft .NET-based applications. It may be used to access data sources for which there is a specific .NET Provider, or, via a .NET Bridge Provider, for which there is a specific OLE DB Provider, ODBC Driver, or JDBC Driver. ADO.NET is sometimes considered an evolution of ADO technology, but it is important to note that some major changes were made between the two.

A useful discussion of the shift from ADO to ADO.NET may be found in the MSDN article ADO.NET for the ADO Programmer.

Sources of ADO.NET Providers

• Microsoft ships providers for a few databases and a Bridge to ODBC drivers for use with the Microsoft CLR, on Windows
• OpenLink Software ships providers for a number of target databases, including Bridges to other data access mechanisms, for use with either the Microsoft or Mono CLR implementations, on Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris, Linux, and other platforms