C# PostgreSQL

Introduction to Npgsql and EF Core

Npgsql is an open-source .NET data provider for PostgreSQL. It enables C# applications to interact with PostgreSQL databases seamlessly. EF Core (Entity Framework Core) is a popular ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) that simplifies database access and management by allowing developers to work with data using .NET objects. Together, Npgsql and EF Core provide a powerful framework for building robust, efficient, and type-safe data access layers in C# applications.

Setting Up the Environment

Before you can start using Npgsql with EF Core, you need to set up your development environment. This includes installing the necessary NuGet packages for both Npgsql and EF Core.

Use the following package manager console commands to install the packages:

Configuring the Database Context

The DbContext class in EF Core represents a session with the database and allows querying and saving data. You need to create a class that inherits from DbContext and configure it to use PostgreSQL.

Here is an example of how to configure the DbContext:

Defining Entity Classes

Entity classes are the bridge between the database and your application logic. These classes map to the database tables and define the shape of your data.

Below is an example of a simple Product entity class:

Running Migrations

EF Core migrations provide a way to incrementally update the database schema to keep it in sync with your application's data model. After defining your entity classes and DbContext, you need to create and apply migrations.

Use the following commands to add a migration and update the database:

Performing CRUD Operations

With your database context and entities configured, you can perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on your PostgreSQL database.

Here is how you can add a new product to the database:

This code creates a new instance of the Product entity and adds it to the database using the SaveChanges method.