'ObjectContext' vs 'DbContext' in Entity Framework

afr0 picture afr0 · Feb 7, 2012 · Viewed 23.4k times · Source

I'm using the DbContext class within code that I am creating that is based on the Generic Repositories and Unit of Work design patterns. (I am following the guidance here.) While working on this project I have encountered the ObjectContext class.

I've read quite a number of posts that discuss ObjectContext vs. DbContext. While some of what I've read makes sense, I still don't have a complete understanding of the differences and this leaves me wondering about my current implementation. Should I be using DbContext, ObjectContext or both? Is using one of these now considered an anti-pattern?

Answer

Massimiliano Peluso picture Massimiliano Peluso · Feb 7, 2012

DbContext is just a wrapper around ObjectContext.

DbContext is just a set of APIs that are easier to use than the APIs exposed by ObjectContext.

Anyway, here you'll find a very simple Visual Studio template that uses the Repository Pattern and the Entity Framework.