midADO.NET
How does connection pooling work in ADO.NET?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
Connection pooling reuses existing DB connections instead of creating new ones each time.
Deep explanation
ADO.NET maintains a pool of open connections per connection string. When a connection is requested, it is retrieved from the pool, reducing overhead of opening/closing connections.
Real-world example
High-traffic APIs efficiently reuse DB connections.
Common mistakes
- Changing connection string dynamically causing multiple pools.
Follow-up questions
- What breaks pooling?
- How to optimize pooling?