The ADO.NET DataSet contains DataTableCollection and their DataRelationCollection . It represents a collection of data retrieved from the Data Source. We can use Dataset in combination with DataAdapterclass. The DataSet object offers a disconnected data source architecture. The Dataset can work with the data it contain, without knowing the source of the data coming from. That is , the Dataset can work with a disconnected mode from its Data Source . It gives a better advantage over DataReader , because the DataReader is working only with the connection oriented Data Sources.

The Dataset contains the copy of the data we requested. The Dataset contains more than one Table at a time. We can set up Data Relationsbetween these tables within the DataSet. The data set may comprise data for one or more members, corresponding to the number of rows.

The DataAdapter object allows us to populate DataTables in a DataSet. We can use Fill method of the DataAdapter for populating data in a Dataset. The DataSet can be filled either from a data source or dynamically. A DataSet can be saved to an XML file and then loaded back into memory very easily. The following links shows more information of Dataset in details.