Connect to Azure Active Directory Data from Blazor Apps

Blazor is a framework for developing modern, client-side web UIs using .NET technology. Instead of coding in JavaScript, developers can use the familiar C# language and .NET libraries to build app UIs.

The CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Active Directory can be used with standard ADO.NET interfaces, such as LINQ and Entity Framework, to interact with live Azure Active Directory data. Since Blazor supports .NET Core, developers can use CData ADO.NET Providers in Blazor apps. In this article, we will guide you to build a simple Blazor app that talks to Azure Active Directory using standard SQL queries.

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Active Directory

CData ADO.NET Providers allow users to access Azure Active Directory just like they would access SQL Server, using simple SQL queries.

Install the Azure Active Directory ADO.NET Data Provider from the CData website or from NuGet. Search NuGet for "Azure Active Directory ADO.NET Data Provider."

Create a Azure Active Directory-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Active Directory

1. Create a Blazor project on Visual Studio.
2. From the Solution Explorer, right click Dependencies, then click Add Project Reference.
3. In the Reference Manager, click the Browse button, and choose the .dll file of the installed ADO.NET Provider (e.g. System.Data.CData.AzureAD.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Active Directory\lib etstandard2.0).

SELECT Azure Active Directory Data from the Blazor App

1. Open the Index.razor file from the Project page.
2. In a AzureADConnection object, set the connection string:

   Azure Active Directory uses the OAuth authentication standard. To authenticate using OAuth, you will need to create an app to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties. See the OAuth section in the Help documentation for an authentication guide.

   For example: OAuthClientId=MyApplicationId;OAuthClientSecret=MySecretKey;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;

3. The code below creates a simple Blazor app for displaying Azure Active Directory data, using standard SQL to query Azure Active Directory just like SQL Server.

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.AzureAD;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (AzureADConnection connection = new AzureADConnection(
                   "OAuthClientId=MyApplicationId;OAuthClientSecret=MySecretKey;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT id, availabilityStatus FROM Domains WHERE isVerified = TRUE";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     AzureADDataAdapter dataAdapter = new AzureADDataAdapter(sql, connection);
                     dataAdapter.Fill(results);
         
                     <table class="table table-bordered">
                         <thead class="thead-light">
                             <tr>
                                 @foreach (DataColumn item in results.Rows[0].Table.Columns)
                                 {
                                     <th scope="col">@item.ColumnName</th>
                                 }
                             </tr>
                         </thead>
                         <tbody>
                             @foreach (DataRow row in results.Rows)
                             {
                                 <tr>
                                     @foreach (var column in row.ItemArray)
                                     {
                                         <td>@column.ToString()</td>
                                     }
                                 </tr>
                             }
                         </tbody>
                     </table>
                 }
             </div>
         </div>
       

4. Rebuild and run the project. The ADO.NET Provider renders Azure Active Directory data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

   At this point, you have a Azure Active Directory-connected Blazor app, capable of working with live Azure Active Directory data just like you would work with a SQL Server instance. Download a free, 30-day trial and start working with live Azure Active Directory data in your Blazor apps today.