# Getting Started

The best way to use Npgsql is to install its nuget package.

Npgsql aims to be fully ADO.NET-compatible, its API should feel almost identical to other .NET database drivers.

Here's a basic code snippet to get you started:

    var connectionString = "Host=myserver;Username=mylogin;Password=mypass;Database=mydatabase";
    await using var dataSource = NpgsqlDataSource.Create(connectionString);

    // Insert some data
    await using (var cmd = dataSource.CreateCommand("INSERT INTO data (some_field) VALUES ($1)"))
    {
        cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("Hello world");
        await cmd.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
    }

    // Retrieve all rows
    await using (var cmd = dataSource.CreateCommand("SELECT some_field FROM data"))
    await using (var reader = await cmd.ExecuteReaderAsync())
    {
        while (await reader.ReadAsync())
        {
            Console.WriteLine(reader.GetString(0));
        }
    }

You can find more info about the ADO.NET API in the MSDN docs or in many tutorials on the Internet.