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Expand and talk about the usage of ORM framework in C#!

Popularity：256 ℃/2025-03-05 10:20:56
Entity Framework (EF) is an open source object-relational mapping (ORM) framework provided by Microsoft for .NET applications. It has undergone multiple versions of evolution, mainly divided into two major branches: Entity Framework 6 (EF6) and Entity Framework Core (EF Core). Here are their main differences and characteristics:

1. Entity Framework 6 (EF6)

EF6 is an earlier version, mainly designed for .NET Framework and supports .NET Framework 4.5 and above. It is very mature and stable in the .NET Framework environment.

Features

  1. High maturity:
    • EF6 is a very mature ORM framework in the .NET Framework environment, supporting a wide range of database operations.
    • It provides rich functions, such as code priority, database priority, model priority and other development methods.
  2. Support .NET Framework:
    • Designed for .NET Framework, highly integrated with .NET Framework environment.
    • Suitable for desktop applications, web applications, etc. based on .NET Framework.
  3. Feature-rich:
    • Supports complex mapping relationships (such as inheritance, many-to-many relationships, etc.).
    • Provides powerful database migration capabilities (Code First Migrations).
  4. Performance optimization:
    • Although the performance is not as good as EF Core, it has been extensively optimized in the .NET Framework environment.

Applicable scenarios

  • If your project is based on .NET Framework, or needs to be integrated with an existing .NET Framework codebase, EF6 is a good choice.
  • Suitable for scenarios where rapid development is required and performance requirements are not extreme.

2. Entity Framework Core (EF Core)

EF Core is an ORM framework redesigned by Microsoft for .NET Core and .NET 5+ (including .NET 6, .NET 7, etc.). It is the next generation version of EF6, focusing on high performance, lightweight and cross-platform support.

Features

  1. high performance:
    • EF Core has extensive optimizations in performance, especially when processing large amounts of data, performing better than EF6.
    • Provides a more efficient query compilation and caching mechanism.
  2. Cross-platform support:
    • EF Core supports .NET Core and .NET 5+, suitable for cross-platform development (Windows, Linux, macOS).
    • Seamless integration with modern .NET ecosystems such as Core.
  3. Lightweight and modular:
    • The EF Core is designed to be lighter and removes some redundant features in EF6.
    • A modular extension mechanism is provided to load specific functions as needed.
  4. Powerful new features:
    • Supports asynchronous programming (async/await）。
    • Provides more flexible configuration methods (such as Fluent API).
    • Improved database migration tool (dotnet efcommand line tool).
  5. Continuous update:
    • EF Core is the ORM framework that Microsoft focuses on developing and will continue to receive updates and improvements.

Applicable scenarios

  • If your project is based on .NET Core or .NET 5+, it is recommended to use EF Core.
  • Scenarios with high performance requirements (such as high concurrent web applications).
  • Projects that require cross-platform support.

Version comparison summary

characteristic Entity Framework 6 (EF6) Entity Framework Core (EF Core)
Target framework .NET Framework .NET Core / .NET 5+
performance Better, but not as good as EF Core High performance, significant optimization
Cross-platform support Not supported Support (Windows, Linux, macOS)
Feature richness Rich in features, but heavier Lightweight, modular
Updates and support Less maintenance updates Continuous updates and focus on development
Applicable scenarios .NET Framework Project .NET Core/.NET 5+ projects

Select a suggestion

  1. If your project is based on the .NET Framework:
    • Use EF6 because it is highly integrated with the .NET Framework and has mature functionality.
  2. If your project is based on .NET Core or .NET 5+:
    • Use EF Core because it performs better, supports cross-platform, and is the focus of Microsoft's development.
  3. If you need high performance:
    • EF Core is a better choice, especially when dealing with high concurrency and large data volumes.
  4. If you need to develop quickly and have low performance requirements:
    • EF6 is still a good choice, especially for simple desktop or web applications.
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