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Entity Framework VS Dapper

Compare Entity Framework VS Dapper and see what are their differences

Entity Framework

See Comparison of Entity Framework vs NHibernate.

Rating
0 reviews
Dapper

Dapper is a user-friendly object mapper for the .NET framework.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Entity Framework should be more popular than Dapper. It has been mentioned 15 times since March 2021.

social mentions
15 vs 8
Development popularity
55% vs 45%
alternatives listed
39 vs 24

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Entity Framework
Dapper
Website learn.microsoft.com learndapper.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Entity Framework 5 features
Dapper 5 features
  • Productivity
    Entity Framework automates database-related code generation, reducing the amount of boilerplate code developers must write and maintain. This allows developers to work more efficiently and focus more on business logic.
  • Abstraction
    It abstracts the database interaction details, enabling developers to work with higher-level .NET objects instead of raw SQL queries, resulting in clearer and more manageable code.
  • Code First Approach
    This allows developers to define their database schema using C# classes, making it easy to evolve the database alongside the codebase using migrations.
  • Support for Multiple Databases
    Entity Framework supports a wide range of relational databases, including SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MySQL, providing flexibility and choice to the developers.
  • Change Tracking
    It provides automatic change tracking of entity objects, simplifying the process of updating data in the database without manually tracking object changes.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Overhead
    The abstraction layer can lead to performance overhead compared to plain SQL queries, as the generated queries might not be as optimized as handcrafted SQL.
  • Complexity
    For simple or small applications, the complexity introduced by using an ORM like Entity Framework might be unnecessary and could complicate the architecture.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers need to learn the specific concepts and configurations of Entity Framework, which can be time-consuming compared to traditional database access methodologies.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Debugging issues can be more challenging because of the abstraction, making it sometimes difficult to trace the exact query being executed and pinpoint performance bottlenecks.
  • Limited SQL Features
    While Entity Framework supports a wide range of SQL functionalities, there are advanced features specific to certain databases that may not be fully supported or could require custom implementation.
  • Performance
    Dapper is known for its high performance as it uses raw SQL queries and maps results directly to objects, which reduces the overhead of ORM frameworks.
  • Lightweight
    It is a micro ORM and thus does not add significant weight to the application. It only requires a single DLL, which is simple to integrate.
  • Flexibility
    Dapper provides the flexibility to write complex queries and take full advantage of SQL features, performing tasks that are cumbersome with full ORMs.
  • Easy Mapping
    Allows easy mapping of data from the database to C# objects, helping developers handle the conversion between the two seamlessly.
  • Open Source and Support
    Dapper is open-source and has a strong community support with regular updates and a wealth of resources available for learning and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages

  • Lack of Built-in Features
    As a micro ORM, Dapper lacks some of the advanced features present in full-featured ORMs like Entity Framework, such as change tracking and full LINQ support.
  • Manual SQL Queries
    Developers need to write SQL queries manually, which can increase the risk of SQL injection and bugs if not handled carefully.
  • No Automatic Migration
    Unlike some ORMs, Dapper does not offer automatic database migration capabilities, requiring developers to handle schema changes separately.
  • Limited Database Support
    While Dapper supports many popular databases, it may not support niche databases or specific features that are easily managed by other ORMs.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Entity Framework 3 videos + Add
Dapper 6 videos + Add

Entity Framework Best Practices - Should EFCore Be Your Data Access of Choice?

More videos

  • - Entity Framework 6 Tutorial: Learn Entity Framework 6 from Scratch
  • - Getting the best out of Entity Framework Core - Jon P Smith

DAPPER FRAGRANCES REVIEW... NOT SPONSORED!

More videos

  • - Dapper Cigar Co Cubo Sumatra Robusto Cigar Review
  • - BladeHQ / Vox Dapper - Quick Review
  • - Dapper Cigar Co. Desavlido Cigar Review
  • - Sharp and Dapper most comprehensive Review Ever. Sharp and Dapper Shirt Stays.
  • - VIRAL Fragrance DUPES Bianco Latte and Escapade Gourmande | Dapper Fragrances

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Entity Framework
Dapper
55% 55%
45% 45%
49% 49%
51% 51%
65% 65%
35% 35%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Entity Framework no reviews yet
Dapper no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Entity Framework yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Entity Framework 15 mentions
Dapper 8 mentions
  • Create a Simple .NET Workflow App From Scratch – Your Ultimate Guide
    For the simplicity we will use MSSQLProvider to fetch the data from the database. This class has basic functionality, if you want to create complex database queries, for example JOIN, you'd better use something like Entity Framework. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Entity Framework Core in .NET 7 7️⃣
    I only wanted to give a simple preview of what can be done with Entity Framework, but if this is something that interests you and you want to go further in-depth with all the possibilities, I recommend checking out the official docs... - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Got an internship, need help with .NET
    Entity Framework documentation hub - Entity Framework is a modern object-relation mapper that lets you build a clean, portable, and high-level data access layer with .NET (C#) across a variety of databases, including SQL Database... Source: over 3 years ago

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  • Guys, where do you shop for reasonably priced everyday office shoes?
    I've also heard good things about Thursday but never pulled the trigger. I tend to like Timberland boots, and while they aren't the most long-lasting, they are comfortable and can be had for very cheap if you wait for sales. I also have... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Fashion advice for men
    Dappered.com They focus on budget friendly mens fashion beginner stuff. The most helpful is that they'll point out sales, but then give you direct recommendations on what to buy so you're not overwhelmed with choices. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Help with wardrobe to look older and clothing that is more durable?
    The only general advice I would give is to start on dappered.com. They target clothes beginners with quality affordable brands and will tell you exactly what to buy when there's a sale. You can also go to styleforum.net. Browse... Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Entity Framework and Dapper

When comparing Entity Framework and Dapper, you can also consider the following products.