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Maximizing Performance in Entity Framework Core: Tracking vs No Tracking

Introduction

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a popular Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool that simplifies database interactions in .NET applications. One of the features of EF Core is the ability to track changes made to entities, which allows for efficient updates to the database. However, this feature can also have some drawbacks, so EF Core provides options for tracking and not tracking entities.

In this article, we will discuss the differences between tracking and no tracking in EF Core and provide examples to help you decide which option to choose for your specific use case.

Tracking in EF Core

Tracking is the default behavior in EF Core. When an entity is queried from the database, EF Core keeps track of changes made to the entity properties. This means that when you update the entity properties, EF Core automatically detects the changes and marks the entity as modified.

For example, consider the following code that retrieves a Customer entity from the database and then updates the Name property.

using (var context = new MyDbContext())
{
    var customer = context.Customers.First();
    customer.Name = "John Smith";
    context.SaveChanges();
}

In this code, EF Core tracks the changes made to the customer entity, and the SaveChanges() method updates the corresponding row in the database with the new Name value.

No Tracking in EF Core

No tracking is the opposite of tracking. When an entity is queried from the database with no tracking, EF Core does not keep track of changes made to the entity properties. When you update the entity properties, you must manually mark the entity as modified.

For example, consider the following code that retrieves a Customer entity from the database with no tracking and then updates the Name property.

using (var context = new MyDbContext())
{
    var customer = context.Customers.AsNoTracking().First();
    customer.Name = "John Smith";
    context.Update(customer);
    context.SaveChanges();
}

In this code, the AsNoTracking() method tells EF Core not to track changes to the customer entity. Therefore, when the Name property is updated, we must manually call the Update() method to mark the entity as modified. Then, the SaveChanges() method updates the corresponding row in the database with the new Name value.

When to use Tracking or No Tracking?

So, when should you use tracking, and when should you use no tracking? The answer depends on the specific requirements of your application. Here are some scenarios where you might want to use tracking.

  • When you need to update entities frequently and efficiently.
  • When you want to take advantage of EF Core's change tracking features, such as automatic detection of modified entities.
  • When you have a small number of entities in memory and memory usage is not a concern.

On the other hand, here are some scenarios where you might want to use no tracking.

  • When you only need to retrieve entities for read-only purposes and do not plan to update them.
  • When you have a large number of entities in memory and memory usage is a concern.
  • When you are querying many entities and performance is a concern.

Conclusion

This article discussed the differences between tracking and no tracking in EF Core. We also provided examples to help you decide which option to choose for your specific use case. Remember that the choice between tracking and no tracking depends on your specific requirements, and you should choose the option that best meets your needs.


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