Entity Framework Tutorials For Begineers and Professionals

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Entity Framework Tutorials using C#

In this Entity Framework Tutorials Course using C#, I am going to discuss all the concepts of Entity Framework with Real-Time Examples  Here in this Entity Framework Tutorials article series, we will start from the very basics, and as we progress we will cover all the intermediate and advanced features of Entity Framework as well.

Before .NET Framework 3.5, as a developer, we often used to write ADO.NET code to perform CRUD operations with the underlying database. For this, we need to create a Connection Object with the database, then Open the Connection, Create the Command Object and execute the Command using Data Reader or Data Adapter. And then we create DataSet or DataTables to store the data in memory to perform different types of Operations on the Data as per the business requirements. Actually, this is a Time-Consuming, and Error-Prone Process. Microsoft has provided a framework called “Entity Framework” to automate all these database-related activities for our application and for this to work, we just need to provide the necessary details to the Entity Framework.

What is Entity Framework?

Entity Framework is an Open-Source Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) Framework for .NET applications that enables .NET developers to work with relational data using domain-specific objects without focusing on the underlying database tables and columns where actually the data is stored. That means the Entity Framework eliminates the need for writing the data-access code that developers usually need to write.

Official Definition: The Entity Framework is an Object-Relational Mapper (O/RM) that enables .NET developers to work with a database using .NET objects. It eliminates the need for most of the data-access code that developers usually need to write.

Why Entity Framework in .NET Applications?

Entity Framework is an ORM Tool and ORMs Tools are basically used to increase the developer’s productivity by reducing the redundant task of doing CRUD operation against a database in a .NET Application.

1. Entity Framework can generate the necessary database commands for doing the database CRUD Operation i.e. can generate SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE commands for us.
2. While working with Entity Framework, we can perform different types of operations on the domain objects (basically classes representing database tables) using LINQ to entities.
3. Entity Framework will generate and execute the SQL Command in the database and then store the results in the instances of your domain objects so that you can do different types of operations on the data.

Entity Framework Versions:

In the year 2008, Microsoft introduced Entity Framework as part of .NET Framework 3.5. Since then, it released many versions of Entity Framework. Currently, there are two latest versions of Entity Framework available one is EF 6 (works with .NET Framework) and another one is EF Core (works with .NET or .NET Core).

EF Version History:

1. EF 1.0 (or 3.5) in the year 2008 => .NET 3.5, Visual Studio 2008
2. EF 4.0 in the year 2010 => .NET 4.0, Visual Studio 2010
3. EF 5 in the year 2012 => .NET 4.0, VS 2012
4. EF 6 in the year 2013 => .NET 4.0 & .NET 4.5, VS 2012

What you will learn from this Tutorial?

In this Entity Framework Tutorials Course, we are going to discuss all the features of Entity Framework 6.X and EF Core with real-time examples. We will discuss

1. Entity Framework Basics
2. Database First Approach
3. Model First Approach
4. Code First Approach

For whom:

This Entity Framework Course is designed for Students, Beginners, Intermediate Developers as well as Professionals Developers who want to learn Entity Frameworks step by step from the very basics to the advanced concepts. This tutorial provides a hands-on approach to the subject with step-by-step program examples that will assist you to learn and put the acquired knowledge into practice.

Prerequisites to Learn Entity Framework:

In order to take full advantage of this Entity Framework Course, you should have the basic knowledge of C# as well as any database such as SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL to gain more knowledge of these tutorials. It is good to have .NET Framework, Visual Studio, and SQL Server installed on your computer.

Note: If we missed any concept which is related to Entity Framework, then please let us know by giving a comment in the comment section. We promised we will make an article on that topic as soon as possible.