What is LINQ?

Answer 1

Language Integrated Query (LINQ) adds the ability to query objects using .NET languages. The LINQ to SQL object/relational mapping (O/RM) framework provides the following basic features:
• Tools to create classes (usually called entities) mapped to database tables
• Compatibility with LINQ’s standard query operations
• The DataContext class, with features such as entity record monitoring, automatic SQL statement generation, record concurrency detection, and much more

Answer 2

LINQ to SQL is a component of .NET Framework version 3.5 that provides a run-time infrastructure for managing relational data as objects. As most developers are used to the object-oriented paradigm, accessing data from a relational database requires understanding of relational paradigm. LINQ to SQL makes querying a SQL Server database as if it was an object and eliminate the need to write very complex SQL statements whenever necessary. It is also an OR/M (object-relational mapping) implementation that allows you to model a relational database using .NET classes. You can then run queries in the database as well as perform insert, update and delete actions to it.