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Entity Framework VS Dapper

Compare Entity Framework VS Dapper and see what are their differences

Entity Framework logo Entity Framework

See Comparison of Entity Framework vs NHibernate.

Dapper logo Dapper

Dapper is a user-friendly object mapper for the .NET framework.
  • Entity Framework Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-18
  • Dapper Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-09-11

Entity Framework features and specs

  • 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 of Entity Framework

  • 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.

Dapper features and specs

  • 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 of Dapper

  • 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.

Entity Framework videos

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

More videos:

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

Dapper videos

DAPPER FRAGRANCES REVIEW... NOT SPONSORED!

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Entity Framework and Dapper)
Development
55 55%
45% 45
Web Frameworks
49 49%
51% 51
Tool
65 65%
35% 35
Application And Data
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Entity Framework and Dapper

Entity Framework Reviews

We have no reviews of Entity Framework yet.
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Dapper Reviews

Essential .NET Core Libraries that Every Programmer should know
Dapper is another .NET Core mapping library focusing on the mapping between the programming language and database.
Source: positiwise.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Entity Framework should be more popular than Dapper. It has been mentiond 15 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Entity Framework mentions (15)

  • Create a Simple .NET Workflow App From Scratch โ€“ 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 / about 2 years ago
  • Entity Framework Core in .NET 7 7๏ธโƒฃ
    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 where you can also find a great tutorial which will guide you through building your very own .NET Core web application. - Source: dev.to / about 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 (on-premises and Azure), SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Azure Cosmos DB. It supports LINQ queries, change tracking, updates, and schema migrations. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How to create a "Database Project" that can be used across multiple .NET apps?
    You can create the DAL using your existing code or start using a Object Relational Mapper like Entity Framework which will do a lot of the work for you, check this out here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/ also check out LINQ. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Website with Database. use C#
    And, possibly (not strictly speaking necessary but very useful) Entity framework as a backend part of it. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Dapper mentions (8)

  • 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 a pair of Banana Republic boots that I bought in a pinch a few years ago that have held up remarkably well and are super comfy. But Banana has gone through several revamps since... Source: about 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: about 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 through their daily fit pics threads and just kind of take a note when someone looks good and what you like about it. Source: over 3 years ago
  • affordable men's fashion recommendations??
    Dappered.com if you're in the US. Their whole thing is affordable fashion for beginners. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Trying to dress like an adult. Help?
    Dappered.com They cover low cost mens fashion. Often when they post about a sale, they'll give you specific suggestions on what to buy. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Sequelize - Provides access to a MySQL database by mapping database entries to objects and vice-versa.

Beego - Beego Web is official blog and documentation website for beego app web framework

MyBATIS - MyBatis is a top-rated SQL-based data mapping solution used by Programmers, Software Engineers, and Database Architects for developing object-oriented software applications.

Mikro orm - TypeScript ORM for Node.js based on Data Mapper, Unit of Work and Identity Map patterns.

Hibernate - Hibernate an open source Java persistence framework project.

Propel ORM - Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, and Microframeworks (Backend)