In this article I will explain a simple tutorial with an example, how to use implement Database-First Approach using Entity Framework in ASP.Net Core (.Net Core 10) in Visual Studio 2026.
Note: For beginners in ASP.Net Core (.Net Core 10), please refer my article ASP.Net Core 10: Hello World Tutorial with Sample Program exampleCore 10: Hello World Tutorial with Sample Program example.
 
 

Database First Approach

In this workflow, the database pre-exists. The ORM "reverse engineers" the schema of the Database to generate classes and Data Context.

Advantage

The DBA has full control over the Application and all changes go from Database to the Code.

Disadvantage

One should be highly skilled in Database in order to move ahead with this approach as the application development highly requires Database skills in order to make changes directly in the Database and then in code.

When it should be used

If you are skilled in Database and/or Database already exists, then Database-First approach is significantly helpful.
 

Requirements

In order to move ahead you will need the following software.
Visual Studio 2026
SQL Server 2022
 

Expertise

Knowledge of SQL Server and mid-level understanding of Tables and SQL Queries.
 
So, let’s start with the Database-First approach.
 
 

Installing Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer package using Nuget

In order to install Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer library using Nuget, please refer my article:
Install Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer 10 Nuget Package.
 
 

Database

Here I am making use of Microsoft’s Northwind Database. You can download it from here.
Download and install Northwind Database
 
 

Model

1. Once the package is successfully installed, create a Folder named Models in your project and then a new class by right clicking the Models folder and then click on Add and then New Item option of the Context Menu.
.Net Core 10: Database-First Approach Entity Framework Tutorial in ASP.Net
 
2. Create the following properties inside the Model class as shown below.
Note: In this article, only four Columns will be displayed and hence four properties are added to the class.
 
public class Customer
{
    public string CustomerID { get;set; }
    public string ContactName { get;set; }
    public string City { get;set; }
    public string Country { get;set; }
}
 
 

Database Context

1. Now you will need to add a new class to your project by right clicking the Solution Explorer and then click on Add and then New Item option of the Context Menu.
.Net Core 10: Database-First Approach Entity Framework Tutorial in ASP.Net
 
2. Inside the class, first inherit the EntityFrameworkCore namespace and then inherit the DbContext class.
Then using Dependency Injection, a Constructor is created DbContextOptions are passed as parameter and also the Constructor of base class i.e. DbContext class is inherited.
Note: For more details on Dependency Injection, please refer my article .Net Core 10: Dependency Injection in ASP.Net CoreCore 10: Dependency Injection in ASP.Net Core.
 
Finally, a DbSet Collection property of Customer Model class is created, which will be later used for holding the Data fetched from SQL Server database.
using EF_Core_8_MVC.Models;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
namespace EF_Core_8_MVC
{
    public class DBCtx: DbContext
    {
        public DBCtx (DbContextOptions<DBCtx> options) : base (options)
        {
        }
 
        public DbSet<Customer> Customers { get;set; }
    }
}
 
 

Adding the Connection String inside AppSettings.json

The following Connection String setting has been added in the AppSettings.json file.
{
 "ConnectionStrings": {
    "MyConn":"Data Source=.\\SQL2022;Initial Catalog=Northwind;Integrated Security=True"
 }
}
 
 

Configuring Database Context in Program.cs

Inside the Program.cs file, the Connection String is read from the AppSettings.json file and is used to add the DbContext service to the WebApplicationBuilder class.
Note: For more details on reading Connection String inside the Program.cs file, please refer my article .Net Core 10: Read Connection String inside Program.cs from AppSettings.json fileCore 10: Read Connection String inside Program.cs from AppSettings.json file.
 
using EF_Core_8_MVC;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
var  builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
 
//Enabling MVC
builder.Services.AddControllersWithViews();
 
//Read the Connection String
string?  conStr = builder.Configuration.GetConnectionString("MyConn");
 
//Add the DbConext
builder.Services.AddDbContext<DBCtx>(options => options.UseSqlServer(conStr));
 
var app = builder.Build();
 
//Configuring Routes
app.MapControllerRoute(
     name:"default",
     pattern:"{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
 
app.Run();
 
 

Controller

The Controller consists of following Action method.

Action method for handling GET operation

Inside this Action method, the Top 10 records are fetched from the Customers Table of the Northwind Database using Entity Framework and returned to the View.
public class HomeController: Controller
{
    private DBCtxContext { get; }
    public HomeController(DBCtx_context)
    {
        this.Context = _context;
    }
 
    public IActionResultIndex()
    {
        List<Customer> customers = (from customer in this.Context.Customers.Take(10)
                                    select customer).ToList();
        return View(customers);
    }
}
 
 

View

HTML Markup

Inside the View, in the very first line the Customer Entity is declared as IEnumerable which specifies that it will be available as a Collection.
For displaying the records, an HTML Table is used. A FOR EACH loop will be executed over the Model which will generate the HTML Table rows with the Customer records.
@using EF_Core_8_MVC.Models;
@model IEnumerable<Customer>
 
@{
     Layout =  null;
}
 
<!DOCTYPE html>
 
<html>
<head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
    <title>Index</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h4>Customers</h4>
    <hr />
    <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
        <tr>
            <th>Customer Id</th>
            <th>ContactName</th>
            <th>City</th>
            <th>Country</th>
        </tr>
        @foreach (Customer  customer in Model)
        {
            <tr>
                <td>@customer.CustomerID</td>
                <td>@customer.ContactName</td>
                <td>@customer.City</td>
                <td>@customer.Country</td>
            </tr>
        }
    </table>
</body>
</html>
 
 

Screenshot

.Net Core 10: Database-First Approach Entity Framework Tutorial in ASP.Net
 
 

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