Microsoft has revealed its plans for Entity Framework Core 7.0 (EF7), the next major update to its open-source, cross-platform object-relational mapper (ORM). Scheduled for release in November 2022, EF7 aims to build on the success of its predecessor, EF Core 6, which launched in late 2021. This release will bring new features and improvements, focusing on areas such as JSON support, SQL queries, and enhancing the overall data access experience for .NET developers across various platforms.
One of the key highlights for EF7 is enhanced support for JSON columns. This feature will enable developers to store and query JSON-based documents directly within relational database columns. The update is designed to standardize JSON support across different database providers, with initial work planned for PostgreSQL and MySQL, while also adding support for SQL Server and SQL Server Lite. This addition will make it easier for developers to handle JSON data within their applications while maintaining compatibility with a wide range of databases.
Another exciting feature coming to EF7 is the ability to execute raw SQL queries for unmapped types. This functionality will allow developers to execute a broader range of raw SQL queries without needing to revert to lower-level technologies like ADO.NET or third-party libraries. This enhancement is expected to improve the flexibility of EF7, making it easier for developers to interact with databases using custom SQL queries while still benefiting from the ORM’s abstraction layer.
In addition to these core features, Microsoft’s focus for EF7 extends beyond just the ORM itself. The update will also improve the data access experience for .NET developers working on various platforms, including .NET MAUI (for cross-platform development), ASP.NET Core (for web development), and Azure Synapse (for analytics). By aligning EF7 with these technologies, Microsoft aims to provide a more cohesive and powerful ecosystem for developers, ensuring that data access remains streamlined and efficient across all .NET domains.