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Hibernate VS Entity Framework Core

Compare Hibernate VS Entity Framework Core and see what are their differences

Hibernate logo Hibernate

Hibernate an open source Java persistence framework project.

Entity Framework Core logo Entity Framework Core

Application and Data, Data Stores, and Object Relational Mapper (ORM)
  • Hibernate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-25
  • Entity Framework Core Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27

Hibernate features and specs

  • Object-Relational Mapping
    Hibernate simplifies database interaction in Java by providing Object-Relational Mapping (ORM), allowing developers to map Java objects to database tables without writing repetitive SQL code.
  • Automatic Table Generation
    Hibernate can automatically generate database tables based on your Java entity classes, reducing the need for manually creating and maintaining database schemas.
  • HQL (Hibernate Query Language)
    Hibernate provides its own query language, HQL, which allows developers to write queries in an object-oriented manner and reduces the dependency on SQL.
  • Caching
    Hibernate supports caching mechanisms like first-level cache (session cache) and second-level cache, which can significantly improve performance by reducing the number of database hits.
  • Transaction Management
    Hibernate integrates with the Java Transaction API (JTA) to provide robust transaction management, ensuring data consistency and reducing the complexities of handling transactions manually.
  • Lazy Loading
    Hibernate supports lazy loading of associated entities, which can optimize performance by retrieving only the necessary data from the database on-demand.

Possible disadvantages of Hibernate

  • Learning Curve
    Hibernate has a steep learning curve for beginners due to its extensive set of features and configurations, which can be overwhelming initially.
  • Performance Overhead
    The abstraction layer provided by Hibernate can introduce a performance overhead compared to using plain SQL queries, especially in complex queries or large-scale applications.
  • Complexity in Configuration
    While Hibernate provides flexibility in configuration, it can become complex and cumbersome to manage, especially in large applications or when tuning performance.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Debugging issues in Hibernate can be challenging due to its abstraction and proxy mechanisms, making it harder to trace problems back to the source.
  • Dependency Management
    The use of Hibernate adds additional dependencies to your project, which can complicate dependency management and increase the size of your application.
  • Limited Control Over SQL
    Hibernate abstracts away SQL, which can be a disadvantage for developers who need fine-grained control over the generated SQL and database optimizations.

Entity Framework Core features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    Entity Framework Core is built to work across multiple platforms, allowing developers to build applications for Windows, Linux, and macOS with the same data access layer.
  • Code-First Approach
    Entity Framework Core supports a code-first approach, enabling developers to define their model using C# classes and then generate a database schema from these models. This is particularly useful for agile development and domain-driven design.
  • Rich LINQ Support
    It provides robust LINQ support, allowing developers to write queries in a type-safe manner while leveraging the full expressive power of LINQ for querying databases.
  • Performance Improvements
    Compared to its predecessor, Entity Framework Core has several performance enhancements, including optimized query compilation and reduced memory allocations.
  • Migration Support
    It includes a migrations feature that enables developers to evolve the database schema over time without losing existing data, allowing for smooth iterative development.

Possible disadvantages of Entity Framework Core

  • Limited Features Compared to EF6
    Entity Framework Core, while improving over time, still lacks some features that were available in Entity Framework 6, such as automatic lazy loading and certain advanced data modeling capabilities.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    For developers who are new to ORMs or coming from other database management techniques, getting accustomed to all features and configurations in Entity Framework Core can be challenging.
  • Complex Configuration
    Sometimes configuring Entity Framework Core, especially for complex applications requiring detailed customizations, can lead to increased complexity and overhead.
  • Dependency on .NET Core Ecosystem
    Entity Framework Core is tightly coupled with the .NET Core ecosystem, which might require additional considerations or adjustments for projects not initially developed in this environment.
  • Community and Documentation Maturity
    Though growing, the community support and documentation may not be as mature as some more established ORM solutions, occasionally leading to difficulties in finding help or examples.

Hibernate videos

Should you Hibernate, Shut down, or put your PC to sleep?

More videos:

  • Review - GELERT Hibernate 400 sleeping bag review.
  • Tutorial - Java Hibernate Tutorial Part 8 Chapter 1 Review 1

Entity Framework Core videos

Getting the best out of Entity Framework Core - Jon P Smith

More videos:

  • Review - Entity Framework Core 5.0: The Next Generation for Data Access

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Hibernate and Entity Framework Core)
Web Frameworks
86 86%
14% 14
Developer Tools
80 80%
20% 20
Development
77 77%
23% 23
JavaScript Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Hibernate Reviews

17 Popular Java Frameworks for 2023: Pros, cons, and more
MyBatis is somewhat similar to the Hibernate framework, as both facilitate communication between the application layer and the database. However, MyBatis doesn’t map Java objects to database tables like Hibernate does — instead, it links Java methods to SQL statements. As a result, SQL is visible when you’re working with the MyBatis framework, and you still have control over...
Source: raygun.com
10 Best Java Frameworks You Should Know
Hibernate is one of the best Frameworks which is capable of extending Java's Persistence API support. Hibernate is an open-source, extremely lightweight, performance-oriented, and ORM (Object-Relational-Mapping) tool.

Entity Framework Core Reviews

We have no reviews of Entity Framework Core yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Entity Framework Core should be more popular than Hibernate. It has been mentiond 42 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.

Hibernate mentions (16)

  • How To Secure APIs from SQL Injection Vulnerabilities
    Object-Relational Mapping frameworks like Hibernate (Java), SQLAlchemy (Python), and Sequelize (Node.js) typically use parameterized queries by default and abstract direct SQL interaction. These frameworks help eliminate common developer errors that might otherwise introduce vulnerabilities. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Top 10 Java Frameworks Every Dev Need to Know
    Overview: Hibernate is a Java ORM (Object Relational Mapping) framework that simplifies database operations by mapping Java objects to database tables. It allows developers to focus on business logic without worrying about SQL queries, making database interactions seamless and more maintainable. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • In One Minute : Hibernate
    Hibernate is the umbrella for a collection of libraries, most notably Hibernate ORM which provides Object/Relational Mapping for java domain objects. In addition to its own "native" API, Hibernate ORM is also an implementation of the Java Persistence API (jpa) specification. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Spring Boot – Black Box Testing
    I'm using Spring Data JPA as a persistence framework. Therefore, those classes are Hibernate entities. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • How to Secure Nodejs Application.
    To prevent SQL Injection attacks to sanitize input data. You can either validate every single input or validate using parameter binding. Parameter binding is mostly used by developers as it offers efficiency and security. If you are using a popular ORM such as sequelize, hibernate, etc then they already provide the functions to validate and sanitize your data. If you are using database modules other than ORM such... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

Entity Framework Core mentions (42)

  • EF Core Database/Tables exists
    Learn how to determine if a database exists and if the required tables exist, which can be used in an application or a dotnet tool using EF Core. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • .NET Learning Notes: EFCore(Entity Framework)
    什么是ORM: Https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ef/core/. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Storing passwords safely (C#)
    Learn and easy way to stored passwords in a SQL-Server database table using an NuGet package BCrypt.Net-Next and Microsoft EF Core using a value converter. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Essential .NET Libraries Every Developer Should Know
    Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is an ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) for .NET. It allows you to work with databases using .NET objects. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Introduction to Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs)
    Documentation: Entity Framework Core Documentation. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Spring Framework - The Spring Framework provides a comprehensive programming and configuration model for modern Java-based enterprise applications - on any kind of deployment platform.

NHibernate - The official NHibernate community site. Download NHibernate. Read blogs. Contribute to the NHibernate Wiki. Find reference documentation.

Grails - An Open Source, full stack, web application framework for the JVM

Actix - Rust's powerful actor system and most fun web framework

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

Visual Studio Community - Try our free, fully-featured, and extensible IDE for creating modern developer apps for Windows, Android, & iOS. Download Community for free today!