LINQ stands for Language INtegrated Query. It is a native querying syntax that allows languages such as C# and VB.NET to filter and enumerate through collections. For example, arrays, data sets and relational databases.

Below are a couple of simple examples as well as some great resources.

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Sample #1

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

namespace LinqTest

{

    class Program

    {

        static void Main(string[] args)

        {

            string[] states = { "TX","LA","FL","AZ","TN","AK"};

            var stateList =

                from s in states

                select s;

            Console.WriteLine("State List:");

            foreach (var state in stateList)

            {

                Console.WriteLine(state);

            }

        }

    }

}

Result

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Sample #2

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

namespace LinqTest

{

    class Program

    {

        static void Main(string[] args)

        {

            string[] states = {"TX","LA","FL","AZ","TN","AK"};

            var stateList =

                from s in states

                where s.Substring(0,1) == "A"

                select s;

            Console.WriteLine("State List:");

            foreach (var state in stateList)

            {

                Console.WriteLine(state);

            }

        }

    }

}

Result

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Great Resources for LINQ

• LINQ Articles from Scott Guthrie
• Visual Studio 2008 Samples
• 101 LINQ Samples
• Understanding LINQ (C#) – via Amro Khasawneh (Code Project)

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