ADO.NET vs Entity Framework vs Dapper : In-depth Comparison

These three technologies—ADO.NET, Entity Framework (EF), and Dapper—are commonly used to interact with relational databases in .NET applications. Each has different trade-offs in terms of performance, ease of use, maintainability, and flexibility. Let’s dive into their differences, examples, and when to use (or avoid) each.

1. ADO.NET: Overview

ADO.NET is a low-level data access API in .NET. It provides direct access to relational data through SQL queries or stored procedures, and requires developers to manually manage connections, commands, and result sets.

• When to Use: When you need maximum performance and complete control over database operations.
• When Not to Use: If you prefer abstraction and don’t want to deal with SQL queries directly.

Example: ADO.NET Query Execution

using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection("your-connection-string"))
{
    connection.Open();
    string query = "SELECT * FROM Products WHERE Price > @Price";

    using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
    {
        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Price", 100);
        using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
        {
            while (reader.Read())
            {
                Console.WriteLine(reader["Name"].ToString());
            }
        }
    }
}

Pros of ADO.NET:

• High Performance: No ORM overhead, making it the fastest option.
• Complete Control: Direct SQL execution with full control over queries.
• Good for Batch Operations: Works efficiently with large datasets.

Cons of ADO.NET:

• Boilerplate Code: Requires a lot of repetitive code for connection management and mapping.
• Error-Prone: Manually managing connections and result sets increases the chance of errors.
• Harder to Maintain: SQL logic spread throughout the codebase can become difficult to maintain.

2. Entity Framework (EF): Overview

Entity Framework (EF) is a full-fledged ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) that abstracts away database details by mapping database tables to .NET classes. It provides LINQ-based querying, handles relationships, and supports automatic change tracking.

• When to Use: When you want easy data management with minimal SQL.
• When Not to Use: If performance is a critical concern or you have complex queries.

Example: Query with Entity Framework

using (var context = new ApplicationDbContext())
{
    var products = context.Products.Where(p => p.Price > 100).ToList();
    foreach (var product in products)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(product.Name);
    }
}

Pros of Entity Framework:

• Easy to Use: Simplifies database access with LINQ queries.
• Change Tracking: Automatically tracks entity changes, making updates easier.
• Database-First & Code-First: Supports both database-first and code-first development.
• Handles Relationships: Manages relationships between entities automatically.

Cons of Entity Framework:

• Performance Overhead: Slower than ADO.NET or Dapper due to ORM overhead.
• Limited SQL Control: Not ideal for complex SQL queries or batch operations.
• Higher Memory Usage: Tracks entities in memory, which can increase resource consumption.

3. Dapper: Overview

Dapper is a micro-ORM that sits between ADO.NET and full-fledged ORMs like EF. It provides performance close to ADO.NET but simplifies the code by mapping query results to .NET objects automatically.

• When to Use: When you want high performance with minimal boilerplate code.
• When Not to Use: If you need automatic change tracking or entity relationships management.

Example: Query with Dapper

using (var connection = new SqlConnection("your-connection-string"))
{
    var products = connection.Query<Product>("SELECT * FROM Products WHERE Price > @Price", new { Price = 100 });
    foreach (var product in products)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(product.Name);
    }
}

Pros of Dapper:

• High Performance: Close to ADO.NET performance.
• Simple Code: Reduces boilerplate code by mapping query results to objects.
• Flexible: Allows full control over SQL queries.
• Lightweight: Does not have the overhead of a full ORM like EF.

Cons of Dapper:

• No Change Tracking: You need to manage state changes manually.
• Limited Relationship Handling: Does not support complex entity relationships as EF does.
• Manual Mapping for Complex Queries: Requires more work for multi-entity mapping.

Performance Comparison

When to Use Which?

1. ADO.NET:
   • Use when performance is critical and you need fine-grained control over database operations.
   • Suitable for high-performance batch operations, legacy systems, or large-scale applications.
2. Entity Framework (EF):
   • Use for CRUD-heavy applications where ease of development is more important than raw performance.
   • Suitable for projects with many relationships and where you want to leverage change tracking.
3. Dapper:
   • Use when you need performance close to ADO.NET but with simpler code.
   • Suitable for read-heavy applications or microservices where relationships are minimal.

Insert Operation with ADO.NET:

using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection("your-connection-string"))
{
    connection.Open();
    var query = "INSERT INTO Products (Name, Price) VALUES (@Name, @Price)";
    using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
    {
        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Name", "New Product");
        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Price", 200);
        command.ExecuteNonQuery();
    }
}

Insert Operation with Entity Framework:

using (var context = new ApplicationDbContext())
{
    context.Products.Add(new Product { Name = "New Product", Price = 200 });
    context.SaveChanges();
}

Insert Operation with Dapper:

using (var connection = new SqlConnection("your-connection-string"))
{
    var query = "INSERT INTO Products (Name, Price) VALUES (@Name, @Price)";
    connection.Execute(query, new { Name = "New Product", Price = 200 });
}

Conclusion

• ADO.NET is best for high-performance, low-level database operations but requires more code and maintenance.
• Entity Framework is ideal for quick development and relationship management, but it has performance overhead.
• Dapper strikes a balance, offering performance close to ADO.NET with less boilerplate code, but lacks advanced ORM features like change tracking.

Choosing the right tool depends on the project’s requirements:

• For performance-critical applications: ADO.NET or Dapper.
• For ease of development and maintenance: Entity Framework.
• For a balance between performance and simplicity: Dapper.