An ORM, or Object-Relational Mapping, is a programming technique that allows developers to interact with a database using an object-oriented paradigm. ORMs provide a way to map the objects in a program to the rows in a relational database, and vice versa. This allows developers to write code that is more readable and maintainable, as well as less error-prone. Some popular ORM libraries are Hibernate, Entity Framework, Eloquent, Active Record, SQL Alchemy and Doctrine.
Comparison between Entity Framework and Eloquent ORM
Entity Framework (EF) and Eloquent are both Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) libraries. They both provide a way for developers to interact with databases using an object-oriented paradigm, allowing them to write code that is more readable and maintainable, as well as less error-prone.
EF is a Microsoft-developed ORM that is primarily used in the .NET ecosystem. It supports various database management systems such as SQL Server, MySQL, and SQLite. EF is known for its powerful querying capabilities, and it also provides support for database migrations and seeding.
Eloquent, on the other hand, is an ORM that is included with the Laravel PHP framework. It is also used outside of Laravel as well. Eloquent is known for its simple and elegant syntax, as well as its support for model relationships and eager loading. Eloquent also supports database migrations, and it has a built-in system for caching query results.
In summary, Entity Framework is a ORM that is geared towards the .NET ecosystem and supports multiple databases management system. While Eloquent is a ORM that is included with the Laravel PHP framework and known for its simple and elegant syntax, support for model relationships and caching query results.