Chapter 11. Query expressions and LINQ to Objects
This chapter covers
- Streaming sequences of data and deferred execution
- Standard query operators and query expression translation
- Range variables and transparent identifiers
- Projecting, filtering, and sorting
- Joining and grouping
- Choosing which syntax to use
You may be tired of all the hyperbole around LINQ by now. You’ve already seen some examples in the book, and you’ve almost certainly read a lot about it on the web. This is where we separate myth from reality:
- LINQ doesn’t turn the most complicated query into a one-liner.
- LINQ doesn’t mean you never need to look at raw SQL again.
- LINQ doesn’t magically imbue you with architectural genius.
Given all that, LINQ is still the best way of expressing queries that I’ve seen within an object-oriented environment. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a very powerful tool to have in your development armory. We’ll explore two distinct aspects of LINQ: the framework support and the compiler translation of query expressions. The latter can look odd to start with, but I’m sure you’ll learn to love them.