Better Entity Framework Core in .net

Better Entity Framework Core in .net

The Entity Framework Core in .net is basically a lightweight, extensible, open-sourced version of the Entity Framework which is mainly based on Data Access Technology. It is being designed for .NET Core Applications so that the developers can be able to access the features in efficient manner. It is essentially a way to read and write data in a flexible and easier way. 

In other words, we can also define it as the Entity Framework Core is an ORM (Object Relational Mapper) built over ADO.NET that enables developers to access & store data much more efficiently without compromising on the performance. With this technology, you no longer will interact directly with the database, like you used to do with traditional SQL queries and SPs.

In most of the situation it doesn’t matter how much complex or simple your application does but, it is hard to not notice the vital part that a Database plays in it. So, we will need an efficient way to read and securely write clean data into our data source. When we are used to have the concept of traditional SQL Queries and ADO.NET approaches to achieve the task then it is sometimes becoming more tedious. 


What we can do Using the Entity Framework Core:

As I Have already discussed above that it is an open source and acts as an ORM (Object Relational Mapper) built over ADO.NET that enables developers to access & store data much more efficiently without compromising on the performance, so we can be able to do the following using this EFCore.

  • We can be able to Manage the database connection more effectively.
  • We can be able to Configure models.
  • Querying data becomes easier and more comfortable.
  • Saving data becomes more convenient.
  • Configure change tracking can be made done more effectively.

In other words, we can say that it is very much effective resource which is being used to provide many functionalities to the developers.


Supported Database with EFCore:

As the EFCore is more reliable and flexible so many database providers are used to provide the services for this. 

  • The EFCore is intended for flexibility and rapid development of the applications.
  • TheEFCore is used to supports the good database providers like SQL Server, MySQL, SQLite, In-memory, and PostgreSQL. 
  • Here the Microsoft has provided us an extension to be installed the relevant tools for each of these providers,from the NuGet package manager. 
  • The real flexibility this wide range of support provides is that you will not have to depend on the Database Provider ever again.

Development Strategy in EFCore:

The application development strategy in EFCore is much easier and convenient. Here we are used to have two basic approaches for developing the applications such as

  1. Code-First Approach and 
  2. Database-First Approach. 


The Code First Approach is basically get used when you have the possibility to generate Database based on the Model classes and Rules applied while applying the migrations. 

For example, if you have a Student.cs class with the required properties, then in order to apply the Code First Approach you need to hook it up with a context class and run some commands on your console BOOM! you have your database get ready based on Student.cs class.

Data Base First approach is basically used to get considered when you already have a defined database with existing data. Here based on the database schema we need to decide about the EF Core does in this scenario is quite interesting. In the previous approach, we generated Tables from Model Classes, while using the DB First Approach we can generate Model classes from our existing Database Schema. 

Top Skills to become a .net Developer

It should be get noted that the Entity Framework Core is mostly get used in the following situations such as

  • When our application is used to consists of mostly CRUD Operations only (Create, Read, and Write). 
  • It is also get used when we need the rapid development of applications are necessary. 
  • Here with complex requirements, EFCore may have slower performance. But it is totally optimizable as well.
  • It is also get used whenwe need a cleaner and well maintainable data access code

When To NOT Use Entity Framework Core?

The EFCore (Entity Framework Core) may not be a good option if we are going for the following cases such as

  • If we need to perform bulk operation in our application which is used to dealt on the database with Millions of records. 
  • Here when the data base is used to have more operations than the raw SQL Approach / Stored Procedure is recommended.
  • Sometimes when we have complex and complicated business logic in our applications, and we are trying to retrieve the information’s with EFCore.

So, in the above two cases the use of EFCore is may not recommendable. As because the Practical systems often use both RAW SQL and Entity Framework Core within the application. 

It should be get noted that theEFCoreis used to perform the query to the data and perform quick operations, while Stored Procedures to perform complex, Bulk Updates.

DB Context Class

The DB Context Class is also called as a Data Base Context Class which is the backbone of this entire concept. It is class which is acts as a session with the database. An instance of this class allows us to do the data operations on the specified models. 

If we look into the practical way then the DbContext Implementation would be look like as follows.

Code Snippet:

public class ApplicationContext :DbContext, IApplicationContext

{

public ApplicationContext(DbContextOptions<ApplicationContext> options)

: base(options)

{

}

public DbSet<Product> Products { get; set; }

}

By looking to the above code snippet, we can say that it is purely being used for the database applications.

Implementing Entity Framework Core in .NET Core 3.1 Web API using Code-First Approach:

If we need to go for the EFCore to be get implemented in the .NET Core 3.1 especially in the ASP.NET then first we need to create a new ASP.NET Core 3.1 Project with API Template using Visual Studio 2019 Community. Here it should be get noted that in order to start the application design we need to have the all the EFCore package to be get present in our applications.

Installing the Required EFCore Packages:

If we need to develop the application, then we need to install the following packages in our system as listed below.

Install-Package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore
Install-Package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools
Install-Package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer
Install-Package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design
Install-Package Swashbuckle.AspNetCore
Install-Package Swashbuckle.AspNetCore.Swagger
Install-Package Microsoft.VisualStudio.Web.CodeGeneration.Design

These are the important package for EFCorebecause the application is going to created on the aspect of these packages.

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