Like the Entity Framework Database First Approach, the Entity Framework Code-First Approach also requires a user-defined context class which should be derived from DbContext class. Let us understand how to use Entity Framework Code First Approach. Let us assume that we are creating a school application for some ABCD School.
However, not all EF6 features are currently implemented in EF Core. Please check the following link for more detailed information. The EF 6.x is a stable and fully tested ORM technology in many .NET Framework applications. The application targets .NET Core, e.g., ASP.NET Core Applications. Entity Framework Core is the new and improved version of the Entity Framework for .NET Core applications. EF Core continues to support the same features and concepts as EF 6.
Entity Framework Latest Versions
As you can see in the above code, the parameterless constructor of our context class calls the DbContext Class constructor and this is required. We have already discussed these things in our EF Basics section. Also, we have included two classes as DbSet properties, and the entity framework going to create two database tables for the above two model classes with the required relationships. This is the beauty of the Entity Framework Code-First Approach. It will automatically create the database based on the parameter passed to the DBContext class constructor from your context class.
EF Core includes providers as NuGet packages which you need to install. Entity Framework Core is the new version of Entity Framework after EF 6.x. It is open-source, lightweight, extensible and a cross-platform version of Entity Framework data access technology. Entity Framework (EF) Core is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) Framework for data access in .NET Core. It was released along with .NET Core and is an Extensible, Lightweight, Open Source, and Cross-Platform Version of Entity Framework data access technology. It works on multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Create migration
That means, in this approach, we need to start coding first in C#.NET or VB.NET and then Entity Framework API will create the database from your code. Entity Framework is an open-source object-relational mapper framework for .NET applications supported by Microsoft. It eliminates the need for most of the data-access code which is used to interact with the database that developers usually need to write. It provides an abstract level to the developers to work with a relational table and columns by using the domain-specific object. It also reduces the code size of the data specific applications and also the readability of the code increases by using it. This is a new technology for accessing the data for Microsoft application.
Then provide a meaningful name for the connection string that is going to save in the web.config file. Here, I am naming the connection string as EmployeeDBContext and then click on the Next button as shown in the below image. This website provides tutorials with examples, code snippets, and practical insights, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. This command will create initials for the project inside migration folder. Lastly, let’s change the display format of the Rating field so that it only shows one digit after the decimal separator. Add the following line to the TvShow.cs and build the application.
EF Core Database Providers
In the next article, I am going to discuss how to create Hyperlink in ASP.NET MVC application. Once you click on the Finish button, let’s see what the things are created by Entity Framework. It will add the reference to the Entity Framework in the reference folder.
- It is a data access framework which used to create and test data in the visual studio.
- It can also generate the necessary SQL to create the database based on the classes.
- Lastly, let’s change the display format of the Rating field so that it only shows one digit after the decimal separator.
- Entity Framework (EF) is an ORM (Object Relational Mapping) tool.
- We changed the menu link’s controller to TvShows and we will implement that in the next section.
- Students and Standards based on the Student and the Standard domain classes which are included as DbSet properties in the context class.
So, in this way, we can work with Entity Framework Code First Approach. Let us understand why we need to use the ORM Framework with an example. Suppose we want to develop an application to manage what is entity framework the students of a college. To do this, we may need to create classes such as Student, Department, Address, etc. Technically, we called these classes Domain classes or business objects.
Build a Web App with ASP.NET Core MVC and EF Core
Now, create a class file with the name Standard.cs and then copy and paste the following code. An ORM Framework like Entity Framework or EF Core can do all of the above for us and saves a lot of time if we provide the required information to the ORM Framework. The ORM Framework sits between our application code and the Database. It eliminates the need for most custom data-access codes we usually write without an ORM. The Add-Migration command generates code to create the initial database schema which is based on the model specified in the TvShowsContext class.
Now we have to add Entity so here I am going to use database first approach when we have an already-existing database then we will prefer the database first approach. So for this right click our solution explorer and go add and select data in left panel and then select ADO.Net Entity Data Model. The main class that coordinates Entity Framework functionality for a given data model is the database context class which allows to query and save data.
Controller
Entity framework, you can think of it as a way to access the database (in an object-oriented fashion). As I’ve stated before, you can easily use entity framework as the M part of mvc if you need to interact with a database. MVC is an architectural pattern to build applications; entity framework is a object relational mapping framework. In this post, we will write the model classes first and EF Core will create the database. Entity Framework (EF) is an object-relational mapper that enables .NET developers to work with relational data using domain-specific objects. It eliminates the need for most of the data-access code that developers usually need to write.
In the ASP.NET MVC application, the controller responds to the incoming HTTP request, then gets the data from a model and hands it over to the view. Here, in this article, we are going to discuss how to retrieve the data from the SQL Server Database using the Entity Framework Database First Approach in ASP.NET MVC Application. In our upcoming article, we will discuss using business objects as our model. Entity framework is an object relational mapper which helps you to abstract different types of databases (MSSQL,MySQL etc) and helps querying objects instead of having sql strings in our project.
Learn Entity Framework using simple yet practical examples on EntityFrameworkTutorial.net for free. Learn Entity Framework DB-First, Code-First and EF Core step by step. While using this site, you agree to have read and accepted our terms
of use and privacy policy. The most “student” approach is to study EF first and then mvc, but in this case you won’t see any real result ’till you studied a bit of MVC. Pranaya Rout has published more than 3,000 articles in his 11-year career.