How to Resolve Odd Character Encodings in MySQL Strings When Using C# and Entity Framework?

Understanding MySQL C# Text Encoding Errors

In this query, we explore a common issue faced when interacting with MySQL databases from C# .NET applications using the Entity Framework, where retrieved strings exhibit unexpected character encodings.

Problem Statement

When retrieving data from a MySQL database configured with UTF-8 encoding, strange characters appear in the results. For instance, "ë" is rendered as "ë". Converting from UTF8 to UTF16 using Encoding.Unicode.GetString() proves ineffective.

Solution

To rectify this issue, two crucial steps are necessary:

1. Ensure UTF-8 Collation: Verify that the collation for the database or table in question is a UTF-8 collation, such as utf8_general_ci.
2. Add Character Set to Connection String: Append Charset=utf8; to the connection string. For example:

"Server=localhost;Database=test;Uid=test;Pwd=test;Charset=utf8;"

Note: It is essential to ensure the case-sensitivity of the Charset parameter. CharSet=UTF8; may not be recognized.

By implementing these steps, the data retrieved from the MySQL database will be displayed correctly in its intended UTF-8 encoding.

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