Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008

Entity Classes

Classes that are mapped to the SQL Server database using LINQ to SQL are known as entity classes. An instantiated object of an entity class is an entity of that type, and I will refer to it as an entity object. Entity classes are normal C# classes with additional LINQ to SQL attributes specified. Alternatively, rather than adding attributes, entity classes can be created by providing an XML mapping file when instantiating the DataContext object. Those attributes or mapping file entries dictate how the entity classes are to be mapped to a SQL Server database when using LINQ to SQL.

By using these entity classes, we can query and update the database using LINQ to SQL.

Creating Entity Classes

Entity classes are the basic building ...