Introduction to Entity Framework Core

Welcome to the introductory documentation for Entity Framework Core (EF Core). EF Core is a modern object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET that enables developers to work with a database using .NET objects. It eliminates the need for most of the data-access code that developers commonly need to write.

What is Entity Framework Core?

Entity Framework Core is an open-source, lightweight, extensible, and cross-platform version of the popular Entity Framework data access technology. It allows you to query a conceptual model described in terms of entities and properties from your database, and then, represent those entities and properties as objects in your code.

Key Features:

• Model Development: Define your database schema using C# or VB.NET classes (Code-First) or map existing database schemas to your classes (Database-First).
• LINQ Queries: Write queries against your database using Language Integrated Query (LINQ), allowing for strongly-typed queries and compile-time syntax checking.
• Change Tracking: EF Core automatically tracks changes made to your entities.
• Migrations: Manage database schema changes over time with EF Core Migrations.
• Performance: Designed for performance and efficiency.
• Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Extensible: Highly extensible architecture allows for custom providers and behavior.

Why Use EF Core?

EF Core simplifies database interactions by providing an abstraction layer over the underlying data store. This offers several benefits:

• Increased Productivity: Reduces boilerplate data access code, allowing developers to focus on business logic.
• Improved Maintainability: Centralizes data access logic and makes it easier to refactor.
• Enhanced Type Safety: LINQ queries provide compile-time checking, reducing runtime errors.
• Database Agnosticism: While you'll interact with specific database providers, EF Core abstracts away many database-specific details, making it easier to switch databases if needed.

Getting Started

To begin using EF Core, you typically need to:

1. Install EF Core NuGet Packages: Add the necessary EF Core packages to your project (e.g., Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore, Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer, Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools).
2. Define Your Models: Create C# classes representing your database entities.
3. Create a DbContext: This class acts as a session with the database and allows you to query and save data.
4. Configure Your Database Provider: Specify which database you are connecting to (e.g., SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite).

Refer to the Getting Started section for detailed instructions and code examples.