What are the limitations of using DataSet?
Short answer: Memory Consumption: A DataSet loads the entire result set into memory, which can lead to high memory usage, especially with large datasets. Performance: Since DataSet is an in-memory representation of data, it can be slower compared to DataReader for large result sets or when working with large amounts of data.
Real-world example (ShopNest)
For large order exports, ShopNest uses SqlDataReader (forward-only, fast). DataSet is heavier and mainly for disconnected editing scenarios.
Say this in the interview
- Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
- Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
- Trade-off — when you would not use it.
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