This document provides an overview and introduction to LINQ (Language Integrated Query). It discusses key LINQ concepts like LINQ to SQL, LINQ providers, extension methods, lambda expressions, and expression trees. It explains that LINQ allows querying over various data sources using a consistent SQL-like syntax. The document also previews upcoming sections on LINQ usage, performance, advanced topics, and references additional learning resources.

1. LINQ Inside
赵劼
http://jeffreyzhao.cnblogs.com
jeffz@live.com

2. About Me
• Shanghai Baisheng Technology Co., Ltd.
• Architect? Programmer!
– Be a happy programmer
• 日写代码三百行，不辞长作程序员
• Have fun with the technology
• Good at losing weight.
– Lost 40kg in 10 months

3. The session is for you if…
• You know nothing about LINQ.
• You don’t like LINQ.
• You want to learn how LINQ works in real
world.
• You’re not using LINQ for any reasons

4. Agenda
• LINQ and the related things
• LINQ inside.
• Performance tips
• Advanced usages
• Others

5. What’s LINQ
• Is it just a db access technology?
• Is it just a piece of “syntactic sugar”?

6. NO!

7. “I’ll never use C# without LINQ”
- Dflying Chen
CTO
Shanghai Baisheng Tech Co., Ltd.

8. var odd =
from i in new int[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }
where i % 2 != 0
select i;
WHAT’S LINQ

9. About LINQ
• Language Integrated Query
• Since .NET Framework 3.5 with C# 3.0/VB 9.0
• The technology combined serveral others
– Extension Method
– Lambda Expression
– Anonymous Method
– Anonymous Class
– etc.

10. LINQ to…
• LINQ != LINQ to SQL
– A new way to access and manipulate data
– Not only the data in SQL Server
• What can we “LINQ to”?
– LINQ to SQL
– LINQ to XML
– LINQ to Object
– LINQ to Entity (from MS ADO.NET Entity Fx)
• And we can also…

11. LINQ to… (Cont.)
• LINQ to Google
• LINQ to System Search
• LINQ to NHibernate
• LINQ to Active Directory
• LINQ to Lucene
• LINQ to Flickr
• LINQ to Excel
• and more and more and more…

12. Some Concerpts
• LINQ
• LINQ to SQL
• LINQ Provider
• http://jeffreyzhao.cnblogs.com/archive/2008/
06/04/ajax-linq-lambda-expression.html

13. Extension Method
Anonymous Method
Lambda Expression
Anonymous Class
…
THINGS RELATED TO LINQ

14. Extension Method
• “syntactic sugar” – I agree with that.
• More elegant programming style
public static class StringExtensions{
public static string HtmlEncode(this s){
return HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(s);
}
<%= }
HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(
"<script>…</script>") =>
%>
<%=
"<script>…</script>".HtmlEnocde();
%>

15. Anonymous Method
• Inline delegates without method declaration
• Can easily access the local variables
– Magic of compiler
void SomeMethod {
int intVar;
Action action = delegate() { intVar = 10; };
action();
}

16. Lambda Expression
• Functional programming style
• “=>” operator
• A lambda expression can represent:
– An anonymous method
– An expression tree
– http://jeffreyzhao.cnblogs.com/archive/2008/06/
04/ajax-linq-lambda-expression.html

17. Things below are all equivalent
Func<int, int, bool> predicate = delegate(int x, int y) { return x > y; };
Func<int, int, bool> predicate = (x, y) => { return x > y; };
Func<int, int, bool> predicate = (x, y) => x > y;

18. And we can do more like…
Func<int, int, bool> predicate = (x, y) => {
var dayService = new DayService();
if (dayService.IsApirlFools(DateTime.Today)){
return x < y;
} else {
return x > y;
}
};

19. Extension Method
Lambda Expression for Anonymous method
DEMO 1

20. Expression Tree
• A GREAT way to represent in lots of scenarios
• Can be constructed by lambda expression in
compile time
• Can also be constructed programically
– Lambda expression would be convert to this by
compiler
System.Linq.Expressions.Expression<TDelegate>

21. Expression Tree Samples
Expression<Func<int>> constantExpr = () => 5;
Expression<Func<int, int, int>> simpleExpr = (x, y) => x + y;
Expression<Func<int, int, bool>> complexExpr =
(x, y) => new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond).Next(x) > y;

22. Programmically Construction
• See what complier do for us…
Expression<Func<int, int>> negateExpr = x => -x;
ParameterExpression param = Expression.Parameter(typeof(int), "x");
Expression<Func<int, int>> negateExpr =
Expression.Lambda<Func<int, int>>(
Expression.Negate(param),
new ParameterExpression[] { param });

23. Expression Hierarchy
System.Linq.Expressions.Expression
BinaryExpression
ConditionalExpression
ConstantExpression
InvocationExpression
LambdaExpression
MemberExpression
MethodCallExpression
NewExpression
NewArrayExpression
MemberInitExpression
ListInitExpression
ParameterExpression
TypeBinaryExpression
UnaryExpression

24. The Factory Methods
• There’re factory methods in Expression class for
us to build an Expression Tree.
• Examples
– New: Creates a NewExpression.
– Negate: Creates a UnaryExpression that represents an
arithmetic negation operation
– And: Creates a BinaryExpression that represents a
bitwise AND operation.
– ArrayIndex: Creates an Expression that represents
applying an array index operator.

25. Tips of Construct Expression Trees
• Process
– Preparing parameter expressions at first.
– Construct the body of expression tree with the
factory methods.
– Wrap the whole expression body with
LambdaExpression at the end.
• Tools can help us
– Expression Tree Visualizer
– .NET Reflector (a must-have for .NET programmer)

26. Lambda Expression for Expression Tree
Construct an Expression Tree Programically
DEMO 2

27. Question
• What’s the difference between these two?
var intList = new List<int>() { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
foreach (int i in intList.Where(i => i % 2 == 1))
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}
var intList = new List<int>() { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }.AsQueryable();
foreach (int i in intList.Where(i => i % 2 == 1))
{
Console.WriteLine(i);
}

28. Answer:
• The lambda expression in the first code
snippet represents an Anonymous Method
• The lambda expression in the second code
snippet constructs an Expression Tree

29. Now we know about Extension Method and
Lambda Expression, but…
Where’s LINQ?

30. Please wait for the
second part of the session…


31. Next, We’ll Focus More on…
• LINQ
– Usage
– Pros & Cons
• Performance
– Benchmark
– Improvements
• Advanced topics
– Use Expression Tree in different scenarios.
– LINQ Provider
• Others

32. References
• http://msdn.microsoft.com
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linq
• http://rednaxelafx.javaeye.com/blog/237822
• http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/csharpsampl
es