Entity Framework Core Code-First Approach with Seed Data

We initially develop the classes for our domain entities using the EF-Core Code-initially methodology. Afterwards, we use migrations to generate the database from our code. The Data-First strategy, in which we build our database first and then create the classes that match, is the antithesis of this.

How Does Entity Framework Core Code-First Approach Work?

• Model First: First, we create a class where we write properties as columns of a data table.
• Database Linked Instance: A DbSet<TEntity> can be used to query and save instances of our Model. LINQ queries against a DbSet<TEntity> will be translated into queries against the database.
• Seed Data: When you want your data table prefilled with data, the OnModelCreating override method is required.
• Adding the Migration: Using Terminal, we can add or update our migrations from classes to the database.

Code Example

• Add a Database Connection to your project’s Program.cs file, you can define your connection string in the appsettings.json file.

  var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
  
  builder.Services.AddDbContext<ApplicationDbContext>(options =>
      options.UseSqlServer(
          builder.Configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection")));
  
  var app = builder.Build();
  
  app.Run();

Create your Model with getter and setter properties.

public class Category
{
    [Key]
    public int CategoryId { get; set; }

    [Required]
    public string CategoryName { get; set; }

    public int CategoryDisplayOrder { get; set; }
}

• Create an ApplicationDbContext class to manage DbContext entities.

  public class ApplicationDbContext : DbContext
  {
      public ApplicationDbContext(DbContextOptions<ApplicationDbContext> options)
          : base(options)
      {
      }
  
      public DbSet<Category> Categories { get; set; }
  }

Categories will be your table name in the database

• To add seed data, prefilled into your Category table.

  public class ApplicationDbContext : DbContext
  {
      public ApplicationDbContext(DbContextOptions<ApplicationDbContext> options)
          : base(options)
      {
      }
  
      public DbSet<Category> Categories { get; set; }
      protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
      {
          modelBuilder.Entity<Category>().HasData(
      	new Category { CategoryId = 1, CategoryName = "Action", CategoryDisplayOrder = 1 },
      	new Category { CategoryId = 2, CategoryName = "SciFi", CategoryDisplayOrder = 2 },
      	new Category { CategoryId = 3, CategoryName = "History", CategoryDisplayOrder = 3 }
          );
      }
  }

• To add the changes to the database, open a Package Manager Console, Go to Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console.

• When Package Manage Console opened; type add-migration <migration_name>, this will create a migration_name.cs file, which you can assess to check if the correct table is being created.
• If the migration comment throws error; Make sure you have a package installed Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools

• To reflect all changes to the database, type update-database.

• Now you can check your table in the Database.