The main difference between the DataGrid and the DataList is that the DataGrid is modeled after a table while the model under the DataList is a list of rows. Datagrid has a default template and also provide a default paging while datalist does not have a default template and does not provide inbuild paging as well. DataList controls may handle commands (just as the DataGrid does). Whereas the DataGrid responds to commands by passing in the selected row data as a set of table cells, the DataList simply passes in the selected index. The DataGrid displays a table in the standard row/column format while the DataList displays the data source as a list of records.