Why should you care?

ShopNest needs raw SQL for legacy payment procedures, bulk imports, and hot report queries where EF is too heavy.

See it live — copy this example

Use a .NET console or API project with SQL Server LocalDB. Run dotnet run after pasting.

using Microsoft.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Data;

await using var conn = new SqlConnection(cs);
await conn.OpenAsync();
await using var cmd = new SqlCommand(
    "SELECT Id, Total FROM Orders WHERE Status = @Status", conn);
cmd.Parameters.Add("@Status", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 20).Value = "Pending";
await using var r = await cmd.ExecuteReaderAsync();
while (await r.ReadAsync())
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.GetInt32(0)} = {r.GetDecimal(1)}");

What happened?

• Open a connection, bind parameters, stream rows with a reader, dispose with await using so the pool stays healthy.
• Follow the steps below — typing the code yourself is the fastest way to learn.

Practice next

1. Add Microsoft.Data.SqlClient.
2. Create Orders in LocalDB.
3. Run the sample.
4. Filter Status = Shipped.
5. Print column names via GetName.

Remember

Direct SQL from C#. Parameters always. Async dispose.

ShopNest first query

API reads pending orders with SqlClient.

Outcome: Team proves LocalDB wiring before repositories.