How deeply does ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e cover soft deletion?

Explains the flag, delete method, and retrieval filters, while deferring broader scenario-specific limitations.

Soft deletion

As explained in ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e

Soft delete is a deletion technique that marks a record as deleted so it is excluded from application exposure while remaining stored.

Soft deletion marks a record as deleted instead of removing it. Application queries exclude marked records, while the data remains stored. This is often safer and easier than physically deleting rows, although it does not suit every scenario. section 12.6 section 12.4.4

Implement the pattern by:

Adding an IsDeleted Boolean property to the entity. section 12.4.4
Setting IsDeleted to true in the delete operation, then saving the entity with SaveChangesAsync(). section 12.4.4
Adding Where clauses to retrieval methods so deleted records cannot be returned through the application. section 12.4.4

Marking a recipe as deleted

public async Task DeleteRecipe(int recipeId)\n{\n var recipe = await _context.Recipes.FindAsync(recipeId);\n if (recipe is null)\n throw new Exception("Unable to find the recipe");\n\n recipe.IsDeleted = true;\n await _context.SaveChangesAsync();\n} section 12.4.4

Listing 12.10 Marking entities as deleted in EF Core

public async Task DeleteRecipe(int recipeId)
{
    var recipe = await _context.Recipes.FindAsync(recipeId);  #1
    if(recipe is null) {                                      #2
        throw new Exception("Unable to find the recipe");     #2
    }                                                         #2
    recipe.IsDeleted = true;                                  #3
    await _context.SaveChangesAsync();                        #4
}

Shows the complete EF Core operation for locating an entity, marking it deleted, and saving the change. section 12.4.4

How ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e covers it

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Also explained in

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API Design PatternsSoft deletion is a deletion technique that marks a resource as deleted while retaining it until later physical removal or completion of a deletion process.

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Related concepts

hard deletealternative to · A hard delete permanently removes data or a resource from its physical storage rather than merely marking it as deleted.
HTTP methodimplemented by · An HTTP method is a standardized operation token in an HTTP request that specifies the intended action on a resource.
list methodused by · A list method is an API operation that retrieves the resources belonging to a specified collection.
booleanuses · A Boolean is a logical type or value representing truth or falsity, conventionally with two states: true and false.
undeleteuses · Undelete is the operation of restoring a resource that was marked as deleted without being physically removed.
tradeoffcontrasts with · A tradeoff is a situation in which improving one objective or property requires accepting a cost, limitation, or reduction in another.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.