C# 0 The Complete Reference

Query Syntax vs. Query Methods

As the preceding section has explained, C# has two ways of creating queries: the query 

syntax and the query methods. What is interesting, and not readily apparent by simply 

looking at a program’s source code, is that the two approaches are more closely related than 

you might at first assume. The reason is that the query syntax is compiled into calls to the 

query methods. Thus, when you write something like

where x < 10

the compiler translates it into

Where(x => x < 10)

Therefore, the two approaches to creating a query ultimately lead to the same place.

Given that the two approaches are ultimately equivalent, the following question 

naturally arises: Which approach is best for a C# program? The answer: In general, you 

will want to use the query syntax. It is fully integrated into the C# language, supported by 

keywords and syntax, and is cleaner.