How to Solve LINQ Expression Could Not Be Translated Error in Entity Framework Core

Published: 08 April 2025
on channel: vlogize
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Discover effective solutions to address the common `LINQ expression could not be translated` error when using value objects in Entity Framework Core.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76729953/ asked by the user 'Omid Jamali' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11771955/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76910890/ provided by the user 'Omid Jamali' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11771955/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding the Problem: LINQ Expression Could Not Be Translated

When working with Entity Framework Core, developers often encounter an issue where their LINQ expressions cannot be translated into SQL queries. This is particularly common when using complex types or value objects in your queries. The problem arises when attempting to filter on properties of a value object, such as in this example, where the Name is a value object within the Product entity.

Example Scenario

In the provided code, the query attempts to filter products based on the Name property:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, filtering directly on the value object Name leads to a translation failure because Entity Framework cannot handle the Name type directly in the SQL translation process.

The Solution: Simplifying the Query

The key to resolving this issue lies in modifying the Name value object to enable its conversion to a standard string type in your LINQ queries. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Modify Your Value Object

You need to add an explicit conversion operator in your Name value object class, allowing it to be treated as a string during queries:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This operator enables the implicit casting of a Name to its underlying Value, which is a string.

Step 2: Update Your Query Logic

Now, update your LINQ query to explicitly cast the Name value object to a string:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This change ensures that the query filters effectively on a string, which Entity Framework Core can understand and translate into SQL.

Step 3: Verify Your Database Interaction

After making these changes, it’s essential to check that the query runs correctly on the server instead of the client. You can use SQL Server Profiler or similar tools to verify that your LINQ query executes as expected. This will help you ensure that you’re not facing performance issues by filtering data on the client side instead of the server.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the LINQ expression could not be translated issue effectively when using value objects in your Entity Framework Core applications. This approach not only tackles the translation error but also maintains the integrity and functionality of your domain model.

With these insights, you can confidently incorporate value objects in your EF Core queries, enhancing both performance and readability in your applications.


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