Understand the key difference between Entity Framework Core (.NET Core) and Entity Framework
Tags: dotnet, dotnetframework, csharp, beginners
Published: 2023-11-30 08:21:10

## **Entity Framework Core is the new version of Entity Framework**

First, you need to understand the term Entity before we go further.

**Entity Framework:**
In Microsoft's context, an entity typically refers to an object or a class that represents a table within a database in the Entity Framework. The Entity Framework is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) framework provided by Microsoft that allows developers to work with data using object-oriented programming concepts rather than dealing directly with database tables and SQL queries.

> An entity class in the Entity Framework often represents a table in a database, where each instance of the class corresponds to a row in that table. These classes are used to define the structure of the data and its relationships.

**Key characteristics of entities in the Entity Framework include:**

1. Properties: Properties of the entity class typically represent columns in the corresponding database table.

2. Navigation Properties: These properties represent relationships between different entities, often reflecting foreign key relationships in the database schema.

3. Attributes or Annotations: Annotations or attributes can be used to provide additional information to the Entity Framework about how the entity maps to the database.

Entities in the Entity Framework enable developers to interact with the database using object-oriented techniques, allowing for a more natural and intuitive way to handle data persistence. Developers can perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on these entities, and Entity Framework takes care of translating these operations into appropriate SQL queries to interact with the database.

The Entity Framework (EF) is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) framework developed by Microsoft. It's available for various versions of the .NET Framework and .NET Core. 

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dhea73onk0yt0n2br5w6.jpg)
**Here are the key differences between .NET Entity Framework and .NET Core:**

**Entity Framework (EF)**
Versions: The Entity Framework initially emerged as part of the .NET Framework and had versions up to Entity Framework 6, which was designed to work primarily with the .NET Framework.

Database Support: EF (up to version 6) primarily supported traditional relational databases like SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, etc.

Dependencies: Entity Framework 6 and earlier versions are closely tied to the full .NET Framework and were primarily used within applications built on top of the .NET Framework.

**Entity Framework Core (EF Core)**
Cross-platform: EF Core was built as a lightweight, cross-platform version of Entity Framework specifically designed for .NET Core and later versions (.NET 5, .NET 6, etc.). EF Core can work on various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Modularity: EF Core was rearchitected to be more modular and extensible, allowing it to be used in a wider variety of scenarios and application types.

Performance: EF Core has been optimized for performance and resource usage, addressing some of the performance issues found in earlier versions of Entity Framework.

New Features: EF Core introduces some new features and improvements not found in EF 6, including better LINQ support, improved querying capabilities, and support for NoSQL databases (in some scenarios).


**Comparison:**

- Entity Framework (EF) refers to the older versions designed for the .NET Framework.

- Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is the modern, cross-platform ORM specifically designed for .NET Core and later versions.

Both frameworks aim to provide object-relational mapping capabilities, allowing developers to work with databases using object-oriented paradigms, but EF Core is more lightweight, modular, and compatible with the cross-platform (EF Core can work on various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.).NET Core ecosystem. As of .NET 5 and beyond, EF Core is the recommended ORM for new .NET applications.