The DataSource controls are those that can be bound to data from external data sources. These data sources may include databases, XML files, or even flat files. ASP.NET 2.0 introduced some DataSource controls with a powerful data binding technique, so the need for writing lengthy code for binding data-to-data controls has been eliminated.
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In ASP.NET, the term data binding implies binding the controls to data retrieved from a data source and providing read or write connectivity between these controls and the data that they are bound to.
A DataSource control acts like a layer in between your data source and the data bound control. Data bound controls can be any control that actually interacts with the end user while consuming the data services provided by the DataSource control to which it is bound. It defines certain methods and properties that perform data-specific operations like insert, delete, update, and select over the data exposed by the DataSource control...
