Entity Framework Interview Question: Eager Loading vs Lazy Loading

Eager loading and lazy loading are two common approaches used in Entity Framework to load related data from the database. Here's a brief explanation of each and when you would use them:

Eager Loading:

Eager loading is the process of loading all related data in a single query when the initial query is executed. This means that all the related entities are retrieved along with the main entity, reducing the need for additional queries.

Use eager loading when you know that you will need the related data along with the main entity and want to minimize the number of database queries.

Lazy Loading:

Lazy loading is the process of loading related data only when it is accessed for the first time. This can help improve performance by avoiding the unnecessary loading of related entities that may not be needed in the application flow.

Use lazy loading when you want to defer the loading of related data until it is actually needed, which can be beneficial in scenarios where not all related entities are always required.

Understanding the difference between eager loading and lazy loading in Entity Framework is crucial for optimizing database performance and improving application responsiveness based on specific use cases.