In this article I will explain with an example, how to use SqlDataReader in ASP.Net MVC.
The records from the Database table will be read using SqlDataReader and then copied into the Generic List collection of class objects, which is later used for populating HTML Table in ASP.Net MVC.
Note: For beginners in ASP.Net MVC, please refer my article ASP.Net MVC Hello World Tutorial with Sample Program example.
 
 
Database
I have made use of the following table Customers with the schema as follows.
Using SqlDataReader in ASP.Net MVC
 
I have already inserted few records in the table.
Using SqlDataReader in ASP.Net MVC
 
Note: You can download the database table SQL by clicking the download link below.
          Download SQL file
 
 
Namespaces
You will need to import the following namespaces.
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
 
 
Model
The Model class consists of the following three properties.
public class CustomerModel
{
    public int CustomerId { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Country { get; set; }
}
 
 
Controller
The Controller consists of the following Action method.
Action method for handling GET operation
Inside this Action method, the records are fetched from the Customers Table using SqlDataReader and then using WHILE Loop, the records are copied into the Generic List collection of CustomerModel class objects.
Finally, the Generic List collection of CustomerModel class objects is returned to the View.
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    // GET: Home
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        List<CustomerModel> customers = new List<CustomerModel>();
        string constr = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["ConString"].ConnectionString;
        using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(constr))
        {
            string query = "SELECT CustomerId, Name, Country FROM Customers";
            using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, con))
            {
                con.Open();
                using (SqlDataReader sdr = cmd.ExecuteReader())
                {
                    while (sdr.Read())
                    {
                        customers.Add(new CustomerModel
                        {
                            CustomerId = int.Parse(sdr["CustomerId"].ToString()),
                            Name = sdr["Name"].ToString(),
                            Country = sdr["Country"].ToString()
                        });
                   }
                }
                con.Close();
            }
        }
 
        return View(customers);
    }
}
 
 
View
Inside the View, in the very first line the CustomerModel class is declared as IEnumerable which specifies that it will be available as a Collection.
For displaying the records, an HTML Table is used. A loop will be executed over the Model which will generate the HTML Table rows with the Customer records.
@using SqlDataReader_MVC.Models;
@model IEnumerable<CustomerModel>
@{
    Layout = null;
}
 
<!DOCTYPE html>
 
<html>
<head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
    <title>Index</title>
</head>
<body>
    <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
        <tr>
            <th>CustomerId</th>
            <th>Name</th>
            <th>Country</th>
        </tr>
        @foreach (CustomerModel customer in Model)
        {
            <tr>
                <td>@customer.CustomerId</td>
                <td>@customer.Name</td>
                <td>@customer.Country</td>
            </tr>
        }
    </table>
</body>
</html>
 
 
Screenshot
Using SqlDataReader in ASP.Net MVC
 
 
Downloads
Download Code