SqlDbType

SqlDbType is an enumeration in the System.Data.SqlClient namespace of the .NET Framework. It defines constants that represent the data types of SQL Server columns. When you interact with SQL Server databases using ADO.NET, you use SqlDbType to specify the type of data you are sending to or retrieving from a database column. This ensures that the data is handled correctly and efficiently by the SQL Server.

Each member of the SqlDbType enumeration corresponds to a specific SQL Server data type. For example, SqlDbType.Int represents an integer, SqlDbType.VarChar represents a variable-length character string, and SqlDbType.DateTime represents a date and time value. Using the correct SqlDbType is crucial for preventing data conversion errors and for optimizing query performance.

When creating SQL commands, such as INSERT or UPDATE statements, you can associate a SqlDbType with each parameter. This is done through the SqlParameter object's SqlDbType property. For instance, when adding a parameter for an integer column, you would set its SqlDbType to SqlDbType.Int. Similarly, when reading data, the SqlDataReader object's GetSqlDataType() method can retrieve the SqlDbType of a column.

The SqlDbType enumeration provides a comprehensive set of types to cover most common SQL Server data types. It is an essential part of working with SQL Server in ADO.NET, enabling developers to manage data types accurately and facilitate seamless communication between the application and the database.