LINQ Method Syntax

In the previous section, you have learned about LINQ Query Syntax. Here, you will learn about Method syntax.

The compiler converts query syntax into method syntax at compile time.

Method syntax (also known as fluent syntax) uses extension methods included in the Enumerable or Queryable static class, similar to how you would call the extension method of any class.

The following is a sample LINQ method syntax query that returns a collection of strings which contains a word "Tutorials".

Example: LINQ Method Syntax in C#

// string collection
IList<string> stringList = new List<string>() { 
    "C# Tutorials",
    "VB.NET Tutorials",
    "Learn C++",
    "MVC Tutorials" ,
    "Java" 
};

// LINQ Query Syntax
var result = stringList.Where(s => s.Contains("Tutorials"));

Try it

The following figure illustrates the structure of LINQ method syntax.

LINQ Method Syntax Structure

As you can see in the above figure, method syntax comprises of extension methods and Lambda expression. The extension method Where() is defined in the Enumerable class.

If you check the signature of the Where extension method, you will find the Where method accepts a predicate delegate as Func<Student, bool>. This means you can pass any delegate function that accepts a Student object as an input parameter and returns a Boolean value as shown in the below figure. The lambda expression works as a delegate passed in the Where clause. Learn lambda expression in the next section.

Func delegate in Where

The following example shows how to use LINQ method syntax query with the IEnumerable<T> collection.

Example: Method Syntax in C#

// Student collection
IList<Student> studentList = new List<Student>() { 
        new Student() { StudentID = 1, StudentName = "John", Age = 13} ,
        new Student() { StudentID = 2, StudentName = "Moin",  Age = 21 } ,
        new Student() { StudentID = 3, StudentName = "Bill",  Age = 18 } ,
        new Student() { StudentID = 4, StudentName = "Ram" , Age = 20} ,
        new Student() { StudentID = 5, StudentName = "Ron" , Age = 15 } 
    };

// LINQ Method Syntax to find out teenager students
var teenAgerStudents = studentList.Where(s => s.Age > 12 && s.Age < 20)
                                  .ToList<Student>();

Try it

Example: Method Syntax in VB.Net

// Student collection
Dim studentList = New List(Of Student) From {
        New Student() With {.StudentID = 1, .StudentName = "John", .Age = 13},
        New Student() With {.StudentID = 2, .StudentName = "Moin", .Age = 21},
        New Student() With {.StudentID = 3, .StudentName = "Bill", .Age = 18},
        New Student() With {.StudentID = 4, .StudentName = "Ram", .Age = 20},
        New Student() With {.StudentID = 5, .StudentName = "Ron", .Age = 15}
    }

// LINQ Method Syntax to find out teenager students
Dim teenAgerStudents As IList(Of Student) = studentList.Where(Function(s) s.Age > 12 And s.Age < 20)
                                                       .ToList()

Try it

 Points to Remember :

1. As name suggest, Method Syntax is like calling extension method.
2. LINQ Method Syntax aka Fluent syntax because it allows series of extension methods call.
3. Implicitly typed variable - var can be used to hold the result of the LINQ query.