juniorEntity Framework
What is the difference between Code-First and Database-First approaches?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
Code-First creates the database from C# classes. Database-First generates C# classes from an existing database.
Deep explanation
In Code-First, the domain models (C# classes) drive the database schema via Migrations. In Database-First, you scaffold the DbContext and entities from an existing schema using EF Core tooling (Scaffold-DbContext).
Real-world example
Starting a new greenfield project where developers design C# models first, generating the SQL schema automatically.
Common mistakes
- Trying to mix both approaches simultaneously without a clear source of truth, leading to migration conflicts.
Follow-up questions
- How do you generate models from an existing database?