Take a developer journey that paves the way to enterprise-level database access from .NET and C# using the object-relational mapper (ORM) of choice. This second edition is revised to cover Entity Framework Core 5 and 6 (EF) and includes new content on table-per-type mapping, LINQ improvements (filtered includes), many-to-many navigation changes, split queries, simple logging using the DBCommandInterceptor, and other improvements available in EF Core 6. Real-world examples and considerations are presented in this book to help you create robust and efficient database solutions. Throughout the text, actual problems, questions, and common pitfalls are provided to help you recognize optimal solutions for maximum success in the different application scenarios you might encounter. 

Practical Entity Framework Core 6 focuses on the code first approach to developing a database. Taking the code first approach allows the entire database to be built and maintained in code using EF Core 6 so there is never a situation in which you cannot restore the database schema. Additionally, the code first approach creates an entirely transparent record of changes to the database that is easily tracked in source control systems such as GitHub. Emphasis throughout the book is on leaving you well positioned to architect and lead data development efforts for your organization.

What You Will Learn

• Build robust and maintainable databases using a code first approach
• Create and execute stored procedures, triggers, and functions
• Analyze and optimize performance of database queries
• Ensure data integrity through keys, constraints, and relationships
• Encrypt your database columns at rest with TDE and Always-On Encryption 
• Leverage the FluentAPI and attributes for entity configuration

Who This Book Is For

.NET developers who work with enterprise-level applications and need to interact with data structures and data within the back end data store, developers who want to take a code first approach to building database applications to prevent conflicts and optimize efficiency, and those who are moving into full-stack roles, or into senior and architectural roles, and will be responsible for database design and implementation

Table of Contents

Part I: Getting Started

Chapter 1: Introduct ion to Entity Framework

Chapter 2: Working with an Existing Database

Chapter 3: Entity Framework: Code First

Part II: Building the Data Solution

Chapter 4: Models and the Data Context

Chapter 5: Constraints, Keys, and Relationships

Chapter 6: Data Access (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

Chapter 7: Stored Procedures, Views, and Functions

Chapter 8: Sorting, Filtering, and Paging

Part Ill: Enhancing the Data Solution

Chapter 9: LINQ for Queries and Proj ections

Chapter 1 0: Encryption of Data

Chapter 11: Repository and Unit of Work Patterns

Chapter 12: Unit Testing, Integration Testing, and Mocking

Chapter 13: Asynchronous Data Operations and Multiple Database Contexts

Part IV: Recipes for Success

Chapter 14: .Net 5 and EFCore5

Chapter 15: .Net 6 and EFCore6

Chapter 16: Appendix A: Troubleshooting

About the Author

Brian Gorman is a Microsoft Azure MVP, developer, computer science instructor, and trainer, and has been working in .NET technologies as long as they have existed. He was originally MCSD certified in .NET 1 and re-certified with MCSA: Web Apps and MCSD: App Builder certifications in 2019. From 2019 to 2021, Brian has earned nine Azure certifications, including Azure and Data Fundamentals, Azure Administrator, Database Administrator, Security Engineer and Developer Associate certifications, Azure Solutions Architect and DevOps Expert certifications, and an IoT Specialty certification.

Additionally, Brian became an MCT as of April 2019, and is focusing on developing and training developers with full-stack web solutions with .NET Core and Azure. Most recently, Brian has been employed as a Senior Training Architect with Opsgility.

In addition to working with .NET technologies, Brian has been an adjunct faculty member in the computer science department for Franklin University for the last 11 years, where his courses have included data structures, algorithms, design patterns, and, more recently, full-stack solutions in the capstone practicum course.