Entity Framework Core Interview Question #1

What is Entity Framework Core (EF Core)?

EF Core Fundamentals & DbContext Junior Beginner

Quick Interview Answer

Entity Framework Core is Microsoft's modern object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET. It allows .NET applications to work with relational databases primarily through .NET objects, LINQ queries, and a DbContext instead of manually writing all SQL and data-mapping code.

Detailed Explanation

Entity Framework Core is Microsoft's modern object-relational mapper (ORM) for .NET. It allows .NET applications to work with relational databases primarily through .NET objects, LINQ queries, and a DbContext instead of manually writing all SQL and data-mapping code.

EF Core maps entity classes and their properties to database tables and columns. It also supports relationships, change tracking, transactions, migrations, raw SQL, concurrency handling, and multiple database providers.

EF Core does not remove the need to understand SQL or database design. For production systems, developers still need to understand indexes, query plans, transaction behavior, generated SQL, and database-specific limitations.

Code Example

public class Product
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; } = string.Empty;
}

var products = await db.Products.ToListAsync();