NHibernate
NHibernate is an open-source object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for the .NET platform, designed to bridge the gap between object-oriented programming and relational databases. It allows developers to work with database data as .NET objects, handling SQL generation, connection management, and data persistence automatically. Based on the Java Hibernate framework, it supports various databases like SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
Developers should learn NHibernate when building .NET applications that require complex data models and database interactions, as it simplifies data access by eliminating much of the boilerplate SQL code. It is particularly useful for enterprise applications, legacy system migrations, or projects where database independence is needed, as it abstracts database-specific details. However, for simpler scenarios or newer .NET projects, modern alternatives like Entity Framework might be preferred.