Entity Framework Extensions Insert from Query

Definition

INSERT all rows from the database using a LINQ Query without loading entities in the context.

An INSERT statement is built using the LINQ expression and directly executed in the database.

You can INSERT in any destination table (doesn't have to be part of your model).

// INSERT all customers that are inactive for more than two years into a backup table
var date = DateTime.Now.AddYears(-2);
context.Customers
    .Where(x => x.IsActive && x.LastLogin < date)
    .InsertFromQuery("bck_Customer", x => new { x.CustomerID, x.Name, x.Email });

Online Example

Purpose

Inserting entities using SaveChanges normally requires loading them first in the ChangeTracker if you want to copy existing ones. These additional round-trips are often not necessary.

InsertFromQuery gives you access to directly execute an INSERT statement in the database and provides a HUGE performance improvement.

Performance Comparisons