EF Core Ignore

The Entity Framework Core Fluent API provides two Ignore methods. One belongs to the ModelBuilder class and is used to specify that the entity should not be mapped to a database table. The other Ignore method is available on the EntityTypeBuilder class and enables you to exclude individual properties from mapping.

EF Core Ignore Entity

By convention, the AuditLog entity will be included in the model because it is referenced through a navigation property in the Contact entity. The Ignore method is used in the OnModelCreating method to specify that it is to be excluded from mapping in the example below:

language-csharp
|
public class SampleContext : DbContext
{
    public DbSet<Contact> Contacts { get; set; }

    protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
    {
        modelBuilder.Ignore<AuditLog>();
    }
}

public class Contact
{
    public int ContactId { get; set; }
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string LastName { get; set; }
    public string Email { get; set; } 
    public AuditLog AuditLog { get; set; }
}

public class AuditLog
{
    public int EntityId { get; set; }
    public int UserId { get; set; }
    public DateTime Modified { get; set; }
}

EF Core Ignore Property

The Ignore method is usd to specify that the auto-implemented FullName property in the Contact class below is excluded from mapping:

language-csharp
|
public class SampleContext : DbContext
{
    public DbSet<Contact> Contacts { get; set; }

    protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
    {
        modelBuilder.Entity<Contact>().Ignore(c => c.FullName);
    }
}

public class Contact
{
    public int ContactId { get; set; }
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string LastName { get; set; }
    public string FullName => $"{FirstName} {LastName}";
    public string Email { get; set; } 
}

Data Annotations

The Data Annotations equivalent to the Ignore method is the NotMapped attribute.


Date Modified: 2023-02-27
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