LINQ For Dummies®

Chapter 6. LINQ to Object

In This Chapter

• Working with objects in LINQ

• Developing a simple object query

• Using deferred operators

• Developing a deferred operator application

• Using nondeferred operators

• Developing a nondeferred operator application

Objects (from a LINQ perspective) can refer to any elements that implement the IEnumerable interface in your application. For example, an object can include an array, a DataSet, a database, or even a control when it supports the correct interface. You can even create custom classes to support the IEnumerable interface and interact with them as objects in LINQ. The LINQ to Object provider is the most generic provider that you'll use. You use this provider to perform any task with LINQ — the other providers add to the functionality provided by the LINQ to Object provider. Consequently, this is the most important provider to know about because it affects everything you do.

The examples in Chapters 1 through 5 rely on the LINQ to Object provider. However, these examples show only the basics of what you can do with this provider. The purpose of this chapter is to move from the basics into some more advanced examples of how you can use this provider to work with objects of various sorts.

Besides looking at some of the interesting tasks you can perform with the LINQ to Object provider, this chapter also begins a discussion of operators. Operators include keywords, such as from and select, and methods of interpreting the data. Table 2-1 provides a list of ...