Simple Scaffolding CRUD Operations in ASP.NET Core Using EF Core DB First Approach

In this article, we will perform simple scaffold CRUD operations in ASP.NET Core using the EF Core Database First Approach. Creating a model from an existing database is known as the Database First Approach. Scaffolding is a technique used to generate views and controllers based on the model present in the application. Using scaffolding, you can save your time by creating CRUD operations automatically from your model. We have to perform the following steps to achieve the desired goal.

Create a database named TestDB in SQL Server Management Studio and then create a table named EmployeeMaster in it which will have three columns EmployeeID, EmployeeFirstName, and EmployeeLastName. Here is a table query:

Now we will create an ASP.NET Core Web Application project.

Select Tools menu, select NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console.

Install SQL Server provider by running the following command in the Package Manager Console.

To add Entity Framework Core Tool, run the following command,

We will use the following Scaffold-DbContext command to create a model from our existing database

In the above command, the first parameter is connection string, the second parameter is provider name and third parameter –OutputDir is used to determine where our all classes will be generated. After running the command EmployeeMaster class and TestDBContext class (by deriving DbContext) from our TestDB will be created under the Models folder.

Right-click on the controller. Add->Controller. Select the MVC Controller with the views, using the entity framework.

Select EmployeeMaster class as a model class, TestDBContext as Data context class and Name Controller as EmployeeController as shown below.

After creating a controller, all CRUD operations for the controller will be automatically generated.