Entity Framework Core
Entity Framework Core is a cross-platform object-relational mapping framework for .NET that enables applications to query and persist data through .NET objects and APIs.
ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e
Entity Framework Core is a cross-platform .NET object-relational mapper for working with relational and some nonrelational databases through .NET types and queries.
- How it is used
- Provides database access for an ASP.NET Core API while keeping data operations outside endpoint handlers.
- How deep it goes
- Works through provider setup, modeling, migrations, and entity updates, but defers relationship updates and deeper production guidance.
- Examples
- Uses a minimal recipe API with SQLite packages and a service method that loads, changes, and saves an entity.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via EF Core to connect an ASP.NET Core app to a database, manage schema changes, and query or save entities.
Read how ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e explains Entity Framework Core →
Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition
Entity Framework Core is a .NET object-relational mapping library that maps relational database data to .NET objects.
- How it is used
- Provides relational database access for ASP.NET Core endpoints and application data.
- How deep it goes
- Works through package installation, context configuration, migrations, querying, writes, and observable SQL; does not attempt exhaustive framework coverage.
- Examples
- Uses a stored-calculation endpoint, SQL command logs, application setup listings, and a Blazor component that repeats queries.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via EF Core to configure SQL Server access, query and store data, and diagnose unnecessary database queries.
Read how Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition explains Entity Framework Core →
.NET in Action, Second Edition
Entity Framework Core is a .NET object-relational mapping framework for accessing data stores.
- How it is used
- Maps .NET entities to stored data for CRUD APIs and repository-backed services.
- How deep it goes
- Works through entity keys, DbContext configuration, saving, and LINQ queries while contrasting the abstraction with hand-written SQL.
- Examples
- Builds a book-catalog console application and uses a comic-metadata repository in integration tests.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch: configure a context, save and query entities, then use them in an ASP.NET Core CRUD API.
Read how .NET in Action, Second Edition explains Entity Framework Core →
Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core
Entity Framework Core is a cross-platform object-relational mapper for .NET that enables applications to work with databases using .NET objects.
- How it is used
- Replaces fake API data with persistent relational storage accessed through .NET objects and ORM techniques.
- How deep it goes
- Explains ORM use, models, contexts, connection strings, migrations, and CRUD, while assuming basic DML knowledge.
- Examples
- Uses a MyBGList web API, SQL Server Express, SSMS, entity classes, ApplicationDbContext, Secret Manager, and migrations.
- What you can do after
- Build and operate a database-backed ASP.NET Core API using entities, ApplicationDbContext, LINQ, CRUD operations, and migrations.
Read how Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core explains Entity Framework Core →
Related concepts
- object-relational mapperkind of · An object-relational mapper is software that maps programming-language objects and operations to relational database structures and operations.
- databaseuses · A database is an organized collection of persistent data managed by software for storage, retrieval, querying, and modification.
- librarykind of · A software library is a reusable collection of code or components that other programs can incorporate or invoke to provide functionality.
- database migrationuses · A database migration is a controlled change to a database schema or its associated structures as application requirements evolve.
- LINQuses · LINQ is a .NET language-integrated query technology for querying and transforming data from collections and other data sources.
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