原Entity Framework是否将引入OnDelete方法？及EF与EF Core技术路线疑问
Great question—let's unpack this clearly:
1. Does the original Entity Framework have an OnDelete method equivalent to EF Core?
Short answer: No.
The original EF (EF6 and earlier) only provides the WillCascadeOnDelete method, which is indeed rigid—it only lets you toggle cascade deletion on or off. Unlike EF Core's OnDelete method, which accepts the DeleteBehavior enum (supporting four options: Cascade, Restrict, SetNull, ClientSetNull), EF6 lacks this granular control.
If you wanted to implement non-cascade delete behaviors in EF6, you had to work around it:
- Manually configure the foreign key constraint in your database (e.g., setting it to
SET NULLon delete) - Handle entity state changes manually in your code
- Or write custom SQL triggers to enforce the desired behavior
2. What's the roadmap for EF and EF Core? Will they diverge, merge, or stay parallel?
EF and EF Core are on separate, diverging paths now:
- EF Core is Microsoft's actively developed, modern ORM. It's designed for cross-platform .NET (Core/.NET 5+), with ongoing performance improvements, new features, and support for modern database systems. It's the future of EF development.
- Original EF (EF6) is in maintenance mode. Microsoft only provides bug fixes and compatibility updates for existing users—no new features will be added. It's effectively frozen in time, meant to support legacy applications that haven't migrated to .NET Core/.NET 5+.
They won't merge, as EF Core was built from the ground up to address limitations in the original EF. The two will continue to exist in parallel, but EF Core is the only one receiving active investment.
3. Is aligning their methods a goal?
Nope. Since EF6 is no longer being actively developed, there's no plan to backport EF Core features like the flexible OnDelete method to it. Microsoft's focus is entirely on advancing EF Core, not bringing parity between the two frameworks. The original EF's API is considered legacy at this point, and the priority is to push forward with EF Core's modern design.
内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Bradley
