Dapper Vs Entity Framework | Choosing the Right ORM

Dapper and Entity Framework are two popular Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) frameworks for .NET applications. While both serve the same purpose of simplifying the database interaction in .NET applications, they have some differences in their features and functionalities.

Dapper Vs Entity Framework | Choosing the Right ORM

Here are some key differences between Dapper and Entity Framework:

1. Performance: Dapper is known for its high performance compared to Entity Framework, especially when dealing with complex queries and large datasets. This is because Dapper uses dynamic SQL queries, which makes it faster to execute.
2. Ease of use: Entity Framework has a higher learning curve compared to Dapper, especially for beginners. This is because Entity Framework has a lot of features, which can make it difficult to understand and use. Dapper, on the other hand, has a simpler API and requires less configuration.
3. Querying: Dapper offers more flexibility in querying as it allows developers to write raw SQL queries. Entity Framework, on the other hand, offers LINQ as its primary querying language, which can be easier for developers to write and understand.
4. Database support: Entity Framework supports a wider range of databases compared to Dapper, which primarily supports SQL Server and MySQL.