Bind Database Table to Dropdownlist in Asp.Net

In this article, we have learn how to manually bind database table to asp.net dropdownlist control.

To Start, First we have create database table called Category look like below :

Now, First create web application called DropDownlistDemo and add web form called Default.aspx and add below code.

<form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>
        <asp:DropDownList ID="DropDownList1" runat="server">
        </asp:DropDownList>
    </div>
    </form>

In above code we have add one dropdowndownlist control to web form.

Now, add below code to the Default.aspx.cs page.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Data.Sql;
public partial class _Default : System.Web.UI.Page
{
    SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Category"].ConnectionString);
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (!Page.IsPostBack)
        {
            BindDropDownList();
        }
    }
    private void BindDropDownList()
    {
        SqlDataAdapter adp = new SqlDataAdapter("Select * from Category", con);
        DataSet ds = new DataSet();
        adp.Fill(ds);
        DropDownList1.DataSource = ds;
        DropDownList1.DataTextField = "category_name";
        DropDownList1.DataValueField = "category_name";
        DropDownList1.DataBind();
    }
}

web.config

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--
  For more information on how to configure your ASP.NET application, please visit
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=169433
  -->
<configuration>
  <connectionStrings>
    <add name="Category" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=E:\Demo\DropDownListDemo\App_Data\Database.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True"
        providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
  </connectionStrings>
  <system.web>
        <compilation debug="false" targetFramework="4.0" />
    </system.web>
</configuration>

Demo

Download Complete Source Code