How Can I Retrieve the Auto-Generated ID of a Newly Inserted Entity Using Entity Framework?

Accessing Auto-Generated IDs in Entity Framework

Entity Framework simplifies database interactions, but retrieving the automatically generated ID of a newly inserted record can sometimes be tricky. This guide clarifies how to efficiently obtain this ID.

The Challenge

Many developers encounter difficulties in getting the database-assigned primary key after adding a new entity using Entity Framework. Simply accessing the entity's ID property might not always yield the correct, database-generated value.

The Solution

Entity Framework offers a straightforward method to retrieve the auto-generated ID:

using (var context = new MyContext())
{
  context.MyEntities.Add(myNewObject);
  context.SaveChanges();

  int id = myNewObject.Id; // The auto-generated ID is now available
}

Entity Framework automatically incorporates a SELECT SCOPE_IDENTITY() statement after each INSERT operation when dealing with auto-incrementing primary keys. This ensures the newly generated ID is immediately reflected in the entity.

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Add the Entity: Use context.MyEntities.Add(myNewObject) to add the new entity to the Entity Framework context.
2. Save Changes: Call context.SaveChanges() to persist the changes to the database. This triggers the INSERT and subsequent SCOPE_IDENTITY() query.
3. Retrieve the ID: After SaveChanges(), the myNewObject.Id property will contain the database-generated ID.

This method guarantees accurate retrieval of the auto-generated ID, fulfilling the original requirement.

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