ADO.NET Entity Framework

The ADO.NET Entity Framework is designed to enable developers to create data access applications by programming against a conceptual application model instead of programming directly against a relational storage schema. The goal is to decrease the amount of code and maintenance required for data-oriented applications. Entity Framework applications provide the following benefits:

• Applications can work in terms of a more application-centric conceptual model, including types with inheritance, complex members, and relationships.

• Applications are freed from hard-coded dependencies on a particular data engine or storage schema.

• Mappings between the conceptual model and the storage-specific schema can change without changing the application code.

• Developers can work with a consistent application object model that can be mapped to various storage schemas, possibly implemented in different database management systems.

• Multiple conceptual models can be mapped to a single storage schema.

• Language-integrated query (LINQ) support provides compile-time syntax validation for queries against a conceptual model.

Where Should I Start?

Depending on what you are most interested in, you should consider getting started with the Entity Framework in one of the following topics.

• I want to jump right in…

  • Quickstart (Entity Framework)

  • Getting Started (Entity Framework)

  • Entity Data Model Tools Tasks

• Just show me some code…

  • Entity Framework Tasks

  • Samples (Entity Framework)

• I want to watch some videos…

  • Data Platform How Do I? Videos: Entity Framework Series

• What can I do with it?

  • Introducing the Entity Framework

  • Application Scenarios (Entity Framework)

• How does it integrate with Visual Studio?

  • Entity Data Model Tools Tasks

  • Entity Data Model Wizard

  • ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer Overview

• I want to use LINQ…

  • LINQ to Entities Overview

  • Query Expression Syntax Examples (LINQ to Entities)

  • Querying an Entity Data Model (Entity Framework Tasks)

• I just need some more information…

  • Introducing the Entity Framework

  • Feature Reference (Entity Framework)

  • Entity Framework Resources

In This Section

• Introducing the Entity Framework
  Provides an overview of the features and functionality introduced in the ADO.NET Entity Framework.

• Getting Started (Entity Framework)
  Describes how to design and create an Entity Framework application.

• Programming Guide (Entity Framework)
  Contains conceptual topics, how-to's and tutorials that demonstrate the capabilities of the Entity Framework.

• Feature Reference (Entity Framework)
  Contains conceptual content describing the Entity Data Model, Object Services, and Entity SQL.

• Samples (Entity Framework)
  Contains sample applications demonstrating the features and functionality of the Entity Framework.

• Entity Framework Terminology
  Describes terminology used in the Entity Framework.

See Also

Other Resources

ADO.NET