Entity Framework (EF) Core is a lightweight, flexible, open-source, and cross-platform version of the popular Entity Framework data access technology. It functions as an Object-Relational Mapper (ORM), removing the requirement for the majority of the data-access code that developers typically write and allowing.NET developers to work with a database using.NET objects.
In this article, we will walk through the process of setting up EF Core in an ASP.NET Core web application and performing basic CRUD operations.
- Productivity: Auto-generates SQL scripts and manages migrations.
- Maintainability: Makes code cleaner and more maintainable.
- Testability: Supports dependency injection and in-memory databases.
- Cross-platform: Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Prerequisites
- Visual Studio 2022 or later (or VS Code with .NET SDK).
- .NET 6 or .NET 8 SDK installed.
- Basic knowledge of C# and ASP.NET Core MVC.
Step 1. Create an ASP.NET Core MVC Project
Create a new project in Visual Studio.
Ensure .NET 6.0 or .NET 8.0 is selected.
Step 2. Install Entity Framework Core Packages
Using NuGet Package Manager Console.
Step 3: Define the Data Model
Create a model class under Models folder.
Step 4: Configure DbContext
Create a class AppDbContext.cs:
Register this context in Program.cs
Add the connection string in appsettings.json.
Step 5: Add a Controller and Views
Use the scaffold tool to generate a controller and views.
Choose the Student model and AppDbContext.
Step 6: Run Migrations
This creates the database and tables.
Best Practices
- Always validate input models.
- Use async methods for better performance.
- Use Repository Pattern for complex systems.
Challenges Faced
- Initial migration issues if connection strings are misconfigured.
- Model-property mismatches can throw runtime errors.
- Limited debugging options compared to raw SQL.
Future Scope
- Integrate EF Core with Azure SQL Database.
- Use EF Core with APIs and microservices.
- Explore advanced features like Query Tags, Global Filters, and Stored Procedures.
Author Information
- Name: Mohammed Altaf
- Expertise: C#, ASP.NET Core, ML, Data Engineering
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