Entity Framework Development Approaches

This article is taken from msdn.microsoft.com, it was a necessary part so i provided the content here also.


The Entity Framework is the easiest ORM framework to learn for an ASP.NET developer. Because Microsoft continues to focus ORM development efforts on the Entity Framework, Microsoft and third parties continue to produce new tutorials, videos, and books. Most new tutorials use the Entity Framework even if they are focused on some other technology, such as the latest release of MVC or new model binding features for Web Forms in ASP.NET 4.5.


There are three ways you can work with data models and databases in the Entity Framework:Database First, Model First, and Code First.

• Database First
  If you already have a database, the Entity Framework designer built into Visual Studio can automatically generate a data model that consists of classes and properties that correspond to existing database objects such as tables and columns. The information about your database structure (store schema), your data model (conceptual model), and the mapping between them is stored in XML in an .edmx file. The Entity Framework designer provides a graphical UI that you can use to display and edit the .edmx file.
• Model First
  If you don't have a database yet, you can begin by creating a model in an .edmx file by using the Entity Framework graphical designer in Visual Studio. When the model is finished, the Entity Framework designer can generate DDL (data definition language) statements to create the database. As in Database First, the .edmx file stores model and mapping information.
• Code First
  Whether you have an existing database or not, you can use the Entity Framework without using the designer or an .edmx file. If you don't have a database, you can code your own classes and properties that correspond to tables and columns. If you do have a database, Entity Framework tools can generate the classes and properties that correspond to existing tables and columns. The mapping between the store schema and the conceptual model represented by your code is handled by convention and by a special mapping API. If you let Code First create the database, you can use Code First Migrations to automate the process of deploying the database to production. Migrations can also automate the deployment of database schema changes to production when your data model changes.

Choose Code First for new development unless you want to use a graphical designer to model database objects and relationships. The Entity Framework designer only works with Database First and Model First. Before you choose Database First or Model First, however, consider how you want to handle updates to the data model after you create the database, and how you want to deploy the database and deploy updates to it. Code First Migrations automates the process of implementing and deploying database schema changes that result from data model changes. The advantages of Code First Migrations might outweigh the advantages of the Entity Framework designer.