How do I view the SQL generated by the Entity Framework?

nos picture nos · Sep 11, 2009 · Viewed 347k times · Source

How do I view the SQL generated by entity framework ?

(In my particular case I'm using the mysql provider - if it matters)

Answer

Matt Nibecker picture Matt Nibecker · Dec 23, 2013

For those using Entity Framework 6 and up, if you want to view the output SQL in Visual Studio (like I did) you have to use the new logging/interception functionality.

Adding the following line will spit out the generated SQL (along with additional execution-related details) in the Visual Studio output panel:

using (MyDatabaseEntities context = new MyDatabaseEntities())
{
    context.Database.Log = s => System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(s);
    // query the database using EF here.
}

More information about logging in EF6 in this nifty blog series: http://blog.oneunicorn.com/2013/05/08/ef6-sql-logging-part-1-simple-logging/

Note: Make sure you are running your project in DEBUG mode.