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Create a CRUD API with EF Core and SQL Server

This project helps learners build a practical backend application with real database connectivity. It is a strong next step after your first simple API because it introduces models, EF Core, SQL Server, validation, and clean controller structure.

Project overview Why this matters

Core project outcome

You will build an API for managing product records in a database-driven application.

Create, read, update, and delete records Use EF Core with SQL Server Apply practical structure for real projects

Project overview

This project builds a backend service for product management. A frontend app, mobile app, or another service could consume the API later, but the focus here is the backend itself.

Entity: Product
Database: SQL Server
ORM: Entity Framework Core
Framework: ASP.NET Core Web API

Example product model

public class Product
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; } = "";
    public string Category { get; set; } = "";
    public decimal Price { get; set; }
    public int Quantity { get; set; }
}

What this project teaches

It teaches how models connect to a database, how controllers expose endpoints, and how real backend services are structured around clean data access and clear API design.

Main modules

1. Product model

Define the Product class with the fields your application needs.

2. Database context

Create an EF Core DbContext to connect the Product model to SQL Server.

3. Controller endpoints

Add GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE endpoints for full CRUD functionality.

4. Validation and error handling

Check request data, handle missing records, and return meaningful HTTP status codes.

5. Testing the API

Use Swagger or another API testing tool to verify each endpoint and response.

A strong enhancement is to add filtering, paging, search, or authentication once the base API is working.

Useful project extensions

Add search by category or product name
Include validation attributes on the model
Return DTOs instead of exposing raw entities
Add logging and exception middleware
Protect endpoints with authentication later

Read the starter tutorial Read the article