How does Entity Framework differ from Dapper?

Entity Framework (EF) is a full-featured ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) that allows working with a database through objects and LINQ queries, automatically generating SQL and managing entity states. EF supports change tracking, lazy loading, migrations, and complex relationships between objects.

Dapper is a micro-framework for data access that functions as a lightweight ORM. It does not manage object states and does not provide complex features, but it is very fast and efficient as it simply maps SQL query results to objects.

Main differences:

• EF is heavier and more functional, suitable for complex applications with a lot of business logic.
• Dapper is faster and simpler, suitable for scenarios where performance and control over SQL are important.

Example of using Dapper:

using (var connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
    var articles = connection.Query<Article>("SELECT * FROM Articles WHERE AuthorId = @Id", new { Id = authorId });
}