Entity Framework Extensions Overview

Definition

Entity Framework Extensions is a library that dramatically improves EF performances by using bulk and batch operations.

People using this library often report performance enhancement by 50x times and more!

The library is installed through NuGet. Extension methods are added automatically to your DbContext.

It is easy to use, easy to customize.

// Easy to use
context.BulkSaveChanges();
context.BulkInsert(list);
context.BulkUpdate(list);
context.BulkDelete(list);
context.BulkMerge(list);

// Easy to customize
context.BulkMerge(customers, options => 
	options.ColumnPrimaryKeyExpression = customer => customer.Code);

Installing

Download the NuGet Package

Requirements

Entity Framework Version

• EF Core 8
• EF Core 7
• EF Core 6
• EF Core 5
• EF Core 3
• EF Core 2
• Entity Framework 6
• Entity Framework 5
• Entity Framework 4

Database Provider

• SQL Server 2008+
• SQL Azure
• SQL Compact
• Oracle
• MySQL
• MariaDB
• PostgreSQL
• SQLite

Purpose

Entity Framework is reputed to be very slow when saving multiple entities! The performance issue is mainly due to the DetectChanges method and the number of database round-trip.

By example for SQL Server, for every entity you save, a database round-trip must be performed. So, if you need to insert 10000 entities, then 10000 database round-trips will be performed which makes the process INSANELY slow.

Entity Framework Extensions in counterpart only requires a few database round-trips which greatly helps to improve the performance.

BulkSaveChanges Method

BulkSaveChanges method is the upgraded version of SaveChanges.

All changes made in the context are persisted in the database but way faster by reducing the number of database round-trip required!

BulkSaveChanges supports everything:

• Association (One to One, One to Many, Many to Many, etc.)
• Complex Type
• Enum
• Inheritance (TPC, TPH, TPT)
• Navigation Property
• Self-Hierarchy
• Etc.

BulkSaveChanges Examples

context.Customers.AddRange(listToAdd); // add
context.Customers.RemoveRange(listToRemove); // remove
listToModify.ForEach(x => x.DateModified = DateTime.Now); // modify

// Easy to use
context.BulkSaveChanges();

// Easy to customize
context.BulkSaveChanges(bulk => bulk.BatchSize = 100);

Performance Comparisons

Bulk Operations Methods

Bulk operation methods give you additional flexibility by allowing to customize options such as primary key, columns, include childs entities and more.

They are also faster than BulkSaveChanges since they don't use the ChangeTracker and doesn't call the DetectChanges method.

Bulk Operations Available:

• BulkInsert
• BulkUpdate
• BulkDelete
• BulkMerge (UPSERT operation)
• BulkSynchronize

Bulk Operations Examples

// Easy to use
context.BulkInsert(list);
context.BulkUpdate(list);
context.BulkDelete(list);
context.BulkMerge(list);

// Easy to customize
context.BulkMerge(customers, options => 
	options.ColumnPrimaryKeyExpression = customer => customer.Code; });

Performance Comparisons

Batch Operations Methods

Batch Operations method allow to perform UPDATE or DELETE operation directly in the database using a LINQ Query without loading entities in the context.

Everything is executed on the database side to let you get the best performance available.

Batch Operations Available:

• DeleteFromQuery
• UpdateFromQuery

Batch Operations Examples

// DELETE all customers that are inactive for more than two years
context.Customers
    .Where(x => x.LastLogin < DateTime.Now.AddYears(-2))
    .DeleteFromQuery();
 
// UPDATE all customers that are inactive for more than two years
context.Customers
    .Where(x => x.IsActive && x.LastLogin < DateTime.Now.AddYears(-2))
    .UpdateFromQuery(x => new Customer {IsActive = false});

Performance Comparisons