Is an OLE DB rowset best described as an abstraction of a table (relation), while an ADO Recordset is a higher-level wrapper over that rowset—rather than the relation being an abstraction of a recordset?

Introduction / Context:
Different layers in Microsoft’s data access stack expose different abstractions. OLE DB defines the rowset, a COM interface for tabular data. ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) provides the Recordset object as a convenience wrapper over OLE DB rowsets. This question asks whether the relation is an abstraction of a recordset (which would invert the layering) or whether the recordset is an abstraction over a rowset.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• OLE DB is a lower-level COM API exposing rowsets.
• ADO Recordset wraps OLE DB rowsets, offering scripting-friendly semantics.
• Relations/tables are logical database structures; rowsets are API-level tabular representations.

Concept / Approach:
The correct mental model is: database relation (logical table) → provider exposes tabular data as an OLE DB rowset → ADO maps that rowset to a Recordset object. The statement “a relation is an abstraction of a recordset” reverses this flow and is incorrect. The recordset is derived from, not foundational to, the relational model.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Inspect ADO documentation: Recordset properties and methods translate to OLE DB rowset calls. Reverse mapping (relation abstracting recordset) is not how the stack is defined.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• “Correct” would imply an inverted abstraction hierarchy.
• Provider type (relational vs. nonrelational) does not change the hierarchy.
• ADO.NET is a different technology and does not change OLE DB basics.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming Recordset is a primary storage structure; conflating logical modeling (relations) with API wrappers (rowsets/recordsets).

Final Answer:
Incorrect