Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Certification Practice Test

How can you build a SQL connection string dynamically in C#?

1. By hardcoding values

2. Using the DbConnectionStringBuilder class

3. Through JSON Configuration

4. Using Environment Variables

The correct answer is: Using the DbConnectionStringBuilder class

Building a SQL connection string dynamically is a crucial task when developing applications, especially to ensure flexibility, maintainability, and security. Utilizing the DbConnectionStringBuilder class is a highly effective approach for this purpose. This class provides a convenient way to construct and modify connection strings for different data sources. It abstracts the complexities of string manipulation by allowing developers to specify connection details like the data source, initial catalog, user ID, and password as properties. For example, you can easily create a connection string by simply setting properties on the DbConnectionStringBuilder instance, which will automatically generate a correctly formatted connection string. This method significantly reduces the risk of errors that may occur with manual string concatenation and ensures that the generated connection string adheres to the necessary syntax required by various database providers. Additionally, using the DbConnectionStringBuilder can enhance security practices by managing sensitive information such as credentials more effectively. The other options, while they have their contexts and use cases, do not provide the same level of flexibility and ease of use when it comes to dynamically building SQL connection strings. Hardcoding values limits the adaptability of the connection strings in different environments; JSON configuration and environment variables are more indirect approaches that often require additional parsing or retrieval logic to construct the connection string