---
title: "What is difference between a DataTable and a DataReader"  
description: "What is difference between a DataTable and a DataReader"  
author: "Niraj Kumar Mishra"  
published: 2017-08-23  
updated: 2017-08-23  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34331/what-is-difference-between-a-datatable-and-a-datareader  
category: "ado.net"  
tags: ["ado.net"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is difference between a DataTable and a DataReader

Hi i am new for [Ado.net](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/804/connection-pooling-in-ado-dot-net) .i [faced](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/23284/c-sharp-problem-faced) a [problem](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/81399/tackling-the-problem-of-unemployment-during-corona-pandemic) and little confusion between [DataTable](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/195/datatable-in-ado-dot-net) and [DataReader](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160514/how-to-use-datareader-in-asp-dot-net-c-sharp) ..please help

## Replies

### Reply by Samuel Fernandes

**DataReader**\
1. Its an connection oriented, whenever you want fetch the data from database that you need the connection. after fetch the data connection is diconnected. \
2. Its an Read only format, you cann't update records.\
**DataTable**\
A DataTable object represents a single table in the database. It has a name rows and columns.\
There is not much difference between dataset and datatable, dataset is just the collection of datatables.\
\
\


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34331/what-is-difference-between-a-datatable-and-a-datareader

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