Entity Framework vs Dapper: What to Use in Your .NET App Development Project?

Choosing the right object-relational mapper (ORM) can have a big impact on your app’s performance, maintainability, and scalability, even though it’s a decision that’s often overlooked. In our previous articles, we have already explored many essentials and advantages of .NET software development. This time, we will delve into the .NET tech stack and make an overview of the most popular object-relational mapping frameworks for .NET software development.

In this article, we will explore Entity Framework and Dapper, the two most popular ORM frameworks for .NET software development, uncover their main advantages, and help you choose the best fit for your application development project.

Let’s first define object-relational mapping and its value. Object-relational mapping (ORM) is a software development technique that plays a crucial role in modern application development. It helps your team create a layer between the relational database and object-relational programming languages that are used in the .NET framework.

By choosing a fitting ORM framework, your .NET product development team can:

• Speed up software development.
• Reduce risk of SQL injection attacks by eliminating the need to write complex SQL queries
• Promote code reusability
• Enhance your software performance and scalability with additional features that enhance development efficiency, like automatic change tracking, caching, and lazy loading. 

Choosing the right Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool is crucial for building robust and efficient .NET applications. The most popular options for .NET app development are Entity Framework (EF) and Dapper. Both technologies offer you different advantages and cater to different use cases.

Entity Framework and Dapper differ in terms of complexity, performance, and flexibility. So, it would be useful to explore these technologies, their critical features, and ideal use cases in more detail.

Entity Framework (or Entity Framework Core, which refers to its more recent versions) is a powerful object-relational mapping (ORM) framework developed by Microsoft for .NET applications. Its latest version is Entity Framework Core 8, with a release of a new version scheduled for November 2024. Entity Framework enables developers to work with domain-specific objects rather than database tables and columns directly by providing a high-level abstraction over the database, which allows the specialists to work with data in the form of domain-specific objects. 

Important features of Entity Framework include:

• Flexibility. When it comes to database setup, Entity Framework supports multiple approaches to defining and accessing data, including Database-First, Code-First, and Model-First. With EF, developers can select appropriate approaches based on preference and project requirements. It is possible to generate a database schema based on C# models (entities) or by generating C# entities from an existing database schema. EF also supports different types of data loading: eager loading and lazy loading. This feature is designed to optimize database queries and improve performance based on the required DB communication flow.
• Simplified development. EF provides multiple features that allow developers to simplify and speed up different development processes. In particular, it enables developers to define the data model of their application using C# classes, which represent database tables and relationships abstracting DB scheme configuration complexity. In addition, EF automatically tracks changes to entities, which simplifies the process of saving updates to the database because there is no need to track changes in an updated model manually. EF also allows developers to write queries using C# extension methods due to its LINQ (Language Integrated Query) integration. Entity Framework translates the executed expression tree to an SQL-familiar query that should be executed on the DB side.
• Enhanced development efficiency. Entity Framework can enhance development speed by handling multiple tasks, such as the translation of configured objects into SQL queries, database CRUD operations, and object tracking. It makes data access and manipulation tasks much more intuitive and helps the developers save time on writing SQL queries. 

Check the table below for the main features of Entity Framework.

Dapper, the leader among Entity Framework alternatives, is recognized as a lightweight and high-performance Micro ORM framework. Unlike fully covered ORM frameworks such as Entity Framework, Dapper provides a minimalistic approach that aims to provide developers with fast and efficient access to the DB along with simplicity of usage. The Dapper framework has been created to focus on raw speed and flexibility. Its main aim is to allow developers to execute raw SQL queries and map the results to strongly typed objects. Dapper works by mapping query results directly to object properties, avoiding the overhead of complex object-relational mapping. 

Some important features of Dapper include:

• Excellent for performance. Dapper’s lightweight nature and raw performance make it a popular choice for scenarios where performance is a key factor, such as high-traffic web applications. Its simplicity and efficiency make it easy to integrate into existing projects and work seamlessly with various database providers, making Dapper a valuable tool for developers seeking performance and control in their .NET applications. Unlike EF, Dapper provides manual mapping, which offers greater control over the mapping process and can result in optimized performance.
• Lower entry barrier. Dapper provides straightforward operations for database communication. It’s quite simple for new team members to understand main principles and start working on existing projects. They do not need to know all details of how EF works to create efficient queries and not to decelerate a performance. It is important to mention that Dapper requires developers to know SQL basics because they should create a DB schema on their own. Instead of configuring string properties like in EF, the developers need to specify column details in SQL.
• Transparent code. The Dapper framework has a minimal footprint and imposes little overhead on the application, making the app easier to maintain, including performance-sensitive scenarios. Such a feature gives the developers more control over the query since all main operations, such as SQL query and object mapping, must be defined explicitly. This, in turn, simplifies the codebase, which is very important in terms of continuous code optimization and upgrades.  

The table below summarizes Dapper’s main advantages.

Based on the characteristics above, it may seem tricky to select the right tool when deciding between Entity Framework and Dapper. Let’s discover base-level application characteristics and requirements.

If CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) are the only required operations and the application tends to be simple, Dapper’s lightweight nature and raw performance may be a perfect choice.

However, for larger applications which are more likely to be scaled with complex data models and business logic, Entity Framework might be more suitable as it offers higher-level abstractions and numerous beneficial features. 

If performance is a primary requirement and you need to handle a significant amount of data performing lots of database queries quickly, Dapper might be a preferable choice. It offers raw performance and minimal overhead which makes it a more attractive option than EF.  

Meanwhile, it is also important to take query execution time into account. In this regard, EF proves to be a good choice. It is very easy in Entity Framework to do some overwork when working with complex queries. So, with the right approach and expertise, Entity Framework can fully match Dapper in terms of app performance. 

Entity Framework aligns well with the object-oriented paradigm, making it easier for developers to reason about their data model and work in a more familiar programming paradigm. If your team has experience with Entity Framework and works with its conventions and patterns, you are ready to apply built-in complex relationships, transactions, and joins management. 

Conversely, if your team prefers more control over database interactions and accepts the point of manual SQL script writing, Dapper may be a better fit. Dapper provides a minimal abstraction layer, which means less overhead and, generally, has a lower entry barrier than EF.

Entity Framework does lots of work by automatically generating a code. It’s much easier to run a migration by calling the EF command but it generates a huge amount of code which is not as easy as manually written code to edit.  

Meanwhile, if you want your team to have full control over the SQL code, Dapper may seem more beneficial. With Dapper, the developers need to write migrations manually.

The support of LINQ integrations is an essential feature of Entity Framework. Therefore, the developers don’t need to write SQL scripts. Usually, it’s enough to call a few LINQ extension methods for most tasks to make the query work. It’s a huge advantage when development time is strictly limited and queries required for an application are not too complicated. In addition, EF offers easier data manipulation. It automatically tracks changes to entities and allows bulk saving to the DB which does not require manual tracking and writing specific SQL code. 

Dapper is typically associated with a longer development time due to its lower level of abstraction and the need to write raw SQL queries. Developers using Dapper have to handle mapping, relationships, and query optimization manually.

Entity Framework benefits from being a Microsoft-supported technology with a large community and regular updates. 

Dapper, while widely used and supported by the community, may have fewer resources available for troubleshooting and support.

The table below illustrates the main parameters to consider while choosing between Entity Framework and Dapper.

In sum, both Entity Framework and Dapper are powerful ORM tools that offer distinct advantages based on specific use cases. When choosing the most fitting option for your .NET development project, carefully consider factors such as application complexity, performance requirements, team expertise, and long-term maintenance needs. The solution for the Dapper vs. Entity Framework dilemma will also depend on the project scope and specific features of your project. If performance, code transparency are critical and control over SQL queries are the priorities, Dapper is a suitable choice. On the other hand, if productivity, abstraction, and an extensive amount of developer-friendly ORM features is the priority, Entity Framework will suit better.

Whether you opt for the feature-rich database abstraction of Entity Framework or the raw performance of Dapper, both tools are widely used by developers to solve the need for DB communication and can be applied to any kind of project to help you build efficient .NET applications. 

Leobit, a .NET, AI, and cloud software development company is ready to help you choose the right framework for your needs and execute any .NET development project with a focus on your business requirements. We have an extensive portfolio of .NET software development projects involving both Entity Framework and Dapper. As a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Digital App and Innovation, we can leverage different technologies from the Microsoft stack, along with the most relevant cloud and AI development tools to handle your projects successfully. Contact us to handle your .NET product development project with technical choices tailored to your specific business needs.