Microsoft Entity Framework

aid: microsoft-entity-framework
name: Microsoft Entity Framework
description: Microsoft Entity Framework is an object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for .NET developers enabling database
  access using .NET objects. EF Core is the modern, cross-platform version supporting SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite,
  and Cosmos DB with LINQ queries, change tracking, migrations, and code-first modeling.
type: Index
deliveryModel:
  model: open-core
  license: MIT
  open_source: true
  commercial: true
  callable_host: false
  label: Open core · an OSS project plus a commercial hosted product
  confidence: high
  source:
  - license
  - pricing
  generated: '2026-08-28'
  method: derived
accessModel:
  pricing: freemium
  onboarding: unknown
  trial: false
  try_now: false
  public: false
  label: Freemium
  confidence: medium
  source:
  - plans
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/images/ef-logo.png
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/microsoft-entity-framework/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2024-01-01'
modified: '2026-04-28'
specificationVersion: '0.23'
tags:
- .NET
- Data Access
- Database
- Entity Framework
- ORM
apis:
- aid: microsoft-entity-framework:ef-core
  name: Entity Framework Core
  description: A lightweight, extensible, open source and cross-platform ORM for .NET. Supports SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL,
    SQLite, Cosmos DB, and in-memory databases.
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/
  baseURL: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore
  tags:
  - .NET Core
  - Cross-Platform
  - Database
  - ORM
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/get-started/overview/first-app
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/microsoft.entityframeworkcore
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore
  - type: ReleaseNotes
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/what-is-new/
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore
    title: NuGet Package
- aid: microsoft-entity-framework:ef6
  name: Entity Framework 6
  description: The mature and stable ORM for .NET Framework with Code First, Database First, and Model First workflows.
  humanURL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/ef6/
  baseURL: https://www.nuget.org/packages/EntityFramework
  tags:
  - .NET Framework
  - Database
  - Legacy
  - ORM
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/ef6/
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/ef6/get-started
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.data.entity
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/dotnet/ef6
  - type: SDKs
    url: https://www.nuget.org/packages/EntityFramework
    title: NuGet Package
common:
- type: Website
  url: https://www.microsoft.com/
- type: IssueTracker
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/issues
- type: Releases
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/releases
- type: SecurityPolicy
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/blob/main/.github/SECURITY.md
- type: CodeOfConduct
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/blob/main/.github/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- type: ContributionGuide
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/blob/main/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
- type: License
  name: MIT
  url: https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/blob/main/LICENSE
- type: VulnerabilityDisclosure
  url: security/microsoft-entity-framework-vulnerability-disclosure.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/microsoft-entity-framework-domain-security.yml
- type: Portal
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/
- type: Blog
  url: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/tag/entity-framework/
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/dotnet
- type: StackOverflow
  url: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/entity-framework-core
- type: YouTube
  url: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdo4fOcmZ0oX0ObHwBrJ0vJpZ7PiYMqeA
- type: Support
  url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/get-started/overview/support
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use
- type: PrivacyPolicy
  url: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: LINQ Queries
    description: Write database queries using Language Integrated Query (LINQ) with strongly-typed C# expressions.
  - name: Change Tracking
    description: Automatic tracking of entity changes for efficient database updates.
  - name: Migrations
    description: Database schema versioning with code-first migrations for evolving data models.
  - name: Code First Modeling
    description: Define database schemas using C# classes and data annotations or Fluent API.
  - name: Database Providers
    description: Plugin architecture supporting SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, Cosmos DB, and more.
  - name: Lazy and Eager Loading
    description: Control related entity loading with lazy, eager, and explicit loading strategies.
  - name: Raw SQL Queries
    description: Execute raw SQL and stored procedures alongside LINQ queries.
  - name: Global Query Filters
    description: Apply automatic filtering to all queries for multi-tenancy and soft deletes.
  - name: Value Converters
    description: Custom type conversions between .NET types and database column types.
  - name: Compiled Queries
    description: Pre-compile LINQ queries for improved performance in hot paths.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Web Application Data Access
    description: Data access layer for ASP.NET Core web applications and APIs.
  - name: Microservices Data Layer
    description: Database access for .NET microservices with per-service databases.
  - name: Database Migration Management
    description: Version-controlled schema evolution with automatic migration generation.
  - name: Multi-Database Applications
    description: Applications connecting to multiple database providers simultaneously.
  - name: Domain-Driven Design
    description: Implement DDD patterns with aggregate roots, value objects, and repositories.
  - name: Legacy Database Integration
    description: Map existing database schemas to modern .NET classes with Database First.
- type: Solutions
  data:
  - name: Entity Framework Core
    description: Modern, cross-platform ORM for .NET 6+ applications.
  - name: Entity Framework 6
    description: Mature ORM for .NET Framework applications.
  - name: EF Core Tools
    description: CLI and Package Manager Console tools for migrations and scaffolding.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com