Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a modern, lightweight, extensible, and cross-platform version of the popular Entity Framework data access technology. As a highly recommended ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) for .NET applications, it simplifies data manipulation and provides a plethora of benefits to developers handling database interactions. Here are the top 10 benefits of using Entity Framework Core in your development projects.
EF Core offers notable improvements in performance over its predecessor, Entity Framework. It is designed to execute queries faster, consume less memory, and handle batch updates and inserts more efficiently. These enhancements make EF Core highly suitable for high-load applications, reducing the overall application response time and improving user experience.
One of the most significant advantages of EF Core is its compatibility with different operating systems. Whether you are developing applications on Windows, Linux, or macOS, EF Core works across all these platforms. This flexibility facilitates the development of applications that are portable and can be deployed on any platform, enhancing the application's reach and user base.
EF Core utilizes LINQ (Language Integrated Query) to enable developers to write strong-typed queries in C#. This integration not only helps in writing queries that are easy to understand and maintain but also provides compile-time checking of queries, which reduces runtime errors and enhances the security and stability of the application.
EF Core supports a code-first approach that allows developers to define their database schema directly in the code without the need for an existing database. This approach is particularly beneficial in agile development environments where the database design and requirements are likely to evolve. It allows for easy versioning, collaboration, and tracking of changes through source control.
EF Core facilitates database migrations, making it easier to incrementally update the database schema in a controlled and versioned manner. Migrations in EF Core allow developers to apply database changes as part of their development workflow without manual intervention, ensuring that the database schema is always in sync with the application's data models.
Testing an application against an actual database can be complex, slow, and prone to errors. EF Core offers an in-memory database provider that is perfect for testing, as it dramatically simplizes setting up tests and ensures fast execution. This capability helps improve the efficacy and reliability of automated tests, making it easier to maintain high-quality code.
EF Core provides advanced query capabilities, including the ability to handle raw SQL, stored procedures, and the creation of complex query types. This flexibility allows developers to optimize performance critical data access paths and directly perform database-specific operations when needed, giving them full control over the database interactions.
Compared to its predecessor, EF Core is designed to be more lightweight and modular. This design allows for including only the necessary components in the application, making the overall footprint smaller and the application more responsive. This modularity also makes it easier to extend and tailor EF Core to better suit specific project requirements.
EF Core fully supports asynchronous programming patterns, which is crucial for building scalable and responsive applications. Using asynchronous methods can significantly improve the performance of I/O-bound applications, such as those involving data access, by freeing up the main thread to handle other user interactions while data operations complete in the background.
Being a part of the .NET Core framework, EF Core benefits from a large and active community. This community regularly contributes to its development, adding new features and fixing bugs. The continued evolution of EF Core ensures the technology remains robust, reflecting the latest trends and best practices in software development.
Engstrom Consulting uses EF Core in many of the applications that we have built. Recently I've been working on a large project for Colorado Jack Popcorn, building out a fundraising platform called Colorado Jack Giveback which is a Virtual Online Fundraising Platform that allows for any team to create custom fundraisers. By using EF Core and code first practices I was able to dramatically reduce the time production of the site.
From improvements in performance and maintainability to enhanced testing capabilities and cross-platform support, EF Core offers a versatile and powerful platform for effectively managing data access and manipulation. By adopting EF Core, developers can enjoy not only technical advantages but also a smoother and more efficient development lifecycle.
