Working with SQL Server in .NET Applications
SQL Server and .NET are a natural pairing for building robust, data-driven applications on the Microsoft technology stack. Whether you’re developing web apps with ASP.NET or desktop apps with Windows Forms/WPF, SQL Server provides a reliable, scalable relational database solution that integrates seamlessly with .NET.
Here’s a practical guide to working with SQL Server in your .NET applications:
Choose Your Data Access Technology
.NET offers several ways to connect to SQL Server:
ADO.NET: Low-level, high-performance data access. Great for fine-grained control.
Entity Framework (EF): Object-Relational Mapper (ORM) that simplifies CRUD operations by mapping database tables to .NET classes.
Dapper: Lightweight micro-ORM for simpler, faster data access without full EF overhead.
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is recommended for most new applications for its productivity, LINQ support, and maintainability.
Install SQL Server Client Libraries
For EF Core, add the Microsoft SQL Server provider to your .NET project:
dotnet add package Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer
Set Up Your Connection String
In your appsettings.json (ASP.NET) or config file, add a connection string to your SQL Server database:
{
"ConnectionStrings": {
"DefaultConnection": "Server=localhost;Database=YourDatabase;Trusted_Connection=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=true"
}
}
This connection string specifies the server name, database, and authentication details.
Configure Your DbContext
For EF Core, create a DbContext class representing your database:
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
public class ApplicationDbContext : DbContext
{
public DbSet<Customer> Customers { get; set; }
public ApplicationDbContext(DbContextOptions<ApplicationDbContext> options)
: base(options) { }
}
Then register the context in your Program.cs or Startup.cs:
builder.Services.AddDbContext<ApplicationDbContext>(options =>
options.UseSqlServer(builder.Configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection")));
Define Your Entity Models
Create C# classes that map to your database tables:
public class Customer
{
public int Id { get; set; }
public string Name { get; set; }
}
Entity Framework automatically maps properties to columns.
Perform Database Migrations
Migrations update your SQL Server schema as your models evolve:
dotnet ef migrations add InitialCreate
dotnet ef database update
These commands create tables and update schema changes in SQL Server.
Query and Manipulate Data
Use LINQ with EF Core for clean, type-safe queries:
// Insert
var customer = new Customer { Name = "Alice" };
_context.Customers.Add(customer);
await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
// Read
var customers = await _context.Customers.ToListAsync();
// Update
customer.Name = "Alice Smith";
await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
// Delete
_context.Customers.Remove(customer);
await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
Secure Your Data
Always use parameterized queries or EF Core methods to prevent SQL injection.
Limit database permissions for your application’s SQL Server login.
Encrypt sensitive data where needed.
Monitor and Optimize Performance
Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to profile queries, analyze indexes, and tune performance. EF Core logging helps identify slow queries directly from your app.
Conclusion
Working with SQL Server in .NET is straightforward, flexible, and powerful. Whether you use ADO.NET for maximum control or EF Core for rapid development, you can build scalable, maintainable applications that leverage the full power of SQL Server.
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