Data transfer object

As explained in .NET MAUI in Action

A data transfer object is a data structure that carries serialized data between application or service boundaries without encapsulating business behavior.

A data transfer object (DTO) is a data structure that carries data between application boundaries without containing business behavior. In MVVM, this distinguishes a DTO from a ViewModel, which includes view state and functionality. section 9.3.3

Place DTOs in a shared project when the frontend and backend use the same data shapes. This reduces duplication and makes structural changes visible across the solution. section 8.4.2

Use DTOs to represent problem-area data alongside services:

• Represent products with ProductDto and process them through ProductService. section 9.5.1
• Represent inventory with StockCountDto and InventoryItemDto and process it through InventoryService. section 9.5.1
• Return a view-oriented DTO containing the data needed to render a screen in one API call. section 9.3.3

Figure 8.6 MauiStockTake is a full-stack solution written in C#. Therefore, there is no need to duplicate code as it can be shared across the stack. Code shared across the stack in this way is referred to as cross-cutting concerns.

Use the architecture diagram to see how shared DTO code crosses the application, Web API, and .NET MAUI client. section 8.4.2

How .NET MAUI in Action covers it

How deep it goes

Defines DTO behavior and contrasts it with ViewModel functionality, but does not detail serialization or transport protocols.

Examples

Uses ProductDto, StockCountDto, InventoryItemDto, User, and aggregated leaderboard data as examples.

What it assumes

Assumes basic application layers and services, while clarifying the distinction between Model, ViewModel, and DTO.

What you can do after

Apply it via shared projects to reuse data structures and distinguish data-only DTOs from functional ViewModels.

How it connects

Connects DTOs with shared projects, services, APIs, Model, MVVM, and ViewModel.

liveBookmanning.com

Read .NET MAUI in Action on liveBook Get the book at manning.com

Also explained in

• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Building Web APIs with ASP.NET CoreA data-transfer object is an object that packages data for transfer between software components or across an interface.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Secure APIsA data transfer object is a data structure used to carry structured data between software layers or processes without encapsulating domain behavior.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  .NET in Action, Second EditionA data transfer object is an object that defines the data communicated across a boundary without necessarily exposing the structure of the underlying domain or persistence model.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Building Distributed Applications that WorkA data transfer object is a data-only structure that carries selected values across application or service boundaries.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  F# in Action: A Revised Edition of Get Programming with F#A data transfer object is an object that carries data between software components without encapsulating domain behavior.

Compare how 6 books explain data transfer object →

Related concepts

• portused by · A port is a defined interface or endpoint through which a system communicates with another component, service, or external capability.
• view modelcontrasts with · A view model is a data structure that supplies a user-interface view with the data required to render a particular output.
• code generationproduced by · Code generation is the production of program code by transforming inputs such as specifications, models, templates, or existing representations.
• entitycontrasts with · An entity is a distinct, identifiable person, object, event, or concept represented as a unit in a data, software, or semantic model.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of .NET MAUI in Action. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.