Introduction

This chapter will be all about getting data from a database using Entity Framework Core. We will explore what Entity Framework Core has to offer, including features not commonly found in other ORMs, such as the ability to mix LINQ with SQL and the usage of shadow properties.

Granted, querying is probably the most common activity you do with an Object-Relational tool such as Entity Framework, or, for that matter, with any data exploration tool.

Applications need data to display or use, and they need it to come fast. Caching data is usually a good thing, performance-wise, and we talk about it here.

Sometimes, we need to run similar queries with just minor adjustments. That's where the Query Object pattern kicks in, as well as LINQ reusable queries.

On the other hand, not all kinds of queries that can be expressed in SQL can be performed using LINQ. Entity Framework allows us to have a bit of both worlds, and even combine the comfort of LINQ with the power of SQL.

Also, we cover...