Microsoft Docs

Overview

Data management is a cornerstone of mobile application development with .NET. It encompasses local storage, synchronization with cloud services, conflict resolution, and performance optimization.

• Local Database
• Sync Framework
• Cloud Sync
• Sample Code

Local Database (SQLite)

.NET provides robust support for SQLite through Microsoft.Data.Sqlite. The API offers async methods optimized for mobile.

// Initialize a SQLite connection
using var connection = new Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteConnection("Data Source=app.db");
await connection.OpenAsync();

// Create a table
var createCmd = connection.CreateCommand();
createCmd.CommandText = @"
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS TodoItem (
        Id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
        Title TEXT NOT NULL,
        IsCompleted INTEGER NOT NULL)";
await createCmd.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();

Sync Framework

The .NET Sync Framework enables bidirectional sync between local stores and cloud back‑ends (Azure, AWS, or custom services). It supports incremental sync, conflict detection, and custom migration.

// Configure a sync orchestrator
var orchestrator = new Microsoft.Synchronization.Orchestrator.SyncOrchestrator
{
    LocalProvider = new SqliteSyncProvider("app.db"),
    RemoteProvider = new AzureSyncProvider("https://myapp.azurewebsites.net/api/sync")
};

await orchestrator.SynchronizeAsync();

Learn more in the Sync Framework guide.

Cloud Sync Strategies

Choose a strategy that fits your app’s connectivity patterns:

Example using Azure Mobile Apps SDK:

var client = new Microsoft.WindowsAzure.MobileServices.MobileServiceClient(
    "https://myapp.azurewebsites.net");

// Get the sync table
var todoTable = client.GetSyncTable<TodoItem>();

// Pull changes
await todoTable.PullAsync("allTodoItems", todoTable.CreateQuery());

// Push local changes
await client.SyncContext.PushAsync();

See the full Cloud Sync documentation for advanced scenarios.

Complete Sample: Offline‑First Todo App

This sample demonstrates an offline‑first Todo app using SQLite, Sync Framework, and Azure Sync.

// MainPage.xaml.cs (simplified)

public partial class MainPage : ContentPage
{
    private readonly TodoRepository _repo = new TodoRepository();

    public MainPage()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        LoadItems();
    }

    private async void LoadItems()
    {
        var items = await _repo.GetAllAsync();
        TodoList.ItemsSource = items;
    }

    private async void AddItem_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        await _repo.AddAsync(new TodoItem { Title = NewItemEntry.Text, IsCompleted = false });
        NewItemEntry.Text = "";
        LoadItems();
    }

    private async void Sync_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        await _repo.SyncAsync();
        LoadItems();
    }
}

Download the full project from GitHub.

Related Articles

• Offline Storage Techniques
• Mobile Data Management Best Practices
• Securing Local Data