What is entity graph in Entity Framework?

Question

I have been looking into some Entity framework tutorials and I have come across the word Entity Graph. I haven't got a clear idea about this term and its use. Can anyone provide info on this topic like what it is and its use in the context of entity framework?

Answer 1

When instantiated objects are joined together in a relationship they are referred to as a graph, or an entity graph. The Entity Framework has some important rules about how graphs are maintained.

Example, if you have a User(Entity) graph that consists of a User with Roles, Features.

• When you detach the User

• The User will be disconnected from this graph and the releationship references (Graph edges) will be destroyed.

• You cannot travel from User to Roles/Features, because the graph edges (releationships) are destroyed.

I recommend you buy the "Programming Entity Framework DbContext" book (author: EF-Queen Julia Lerman) and you will find there a good explanation:

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920022237.do