EntityDAC is an ORM for Delphi with LINQ support. It provides a powerful framework that allows performing object-relational mapping of database objects to Delphi classes with full support for encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism and other OOP features. To retrieve data from a database, LINQ is used as a database independent query engine. In addition, there is a feature-rich ORM modeling tool available – Entity Developer that allows you to create and edit your ORM models visually, and generate Delphi entity classes by this model automatically.

Database-First, Model-First & Code-First development
There are several approaches to database application development. Database-First – a database is developed first, then a data model and application classes are generated on the basis of the existing database. Model-First – a data model is developed first in a model developer tool, then a database and application classes are generated by this model. Code-First – in this case, application classes are the original source, on the basis of which a database can be generated, as well as a model, if necessary. When developing applications using EntityDAC, you will be able to use all the three ways.

Visual ORM Model Designer with Code generation
Entity Developer allows you to create and edit ORM models visually, without typing a line of XML code or manual describing class attributes in Delphi code. It supports creation of all kinds of mapping, such as table splitting, mapping entity to several tables, complex types, inheritance hierarchies, etc. Code generation is very flexible due to using T4-like templates, allowing virtually anything you may want for code generation, and you may even create your own templates for other programming languages.

LINQ queries
Using ORM when developing your applications must not only accelerate development of the application itself, but also unify the application code and make applications independent of the specifics and syntax of the SQL database for which it is developed, that will allow to support multiple databases in your application with no effort. Therefore, Language Integrated Query (LINQ) is used in EntityDAC as a query language. Using LINQ also significantly simplifies writing and further support of queries, since, at this, the Code completion Delphi engine is used when typing LINQ keywords, class names, their attributes, etc. And in the same way, LINQ queries syntax check is performed at the stage of application compilation.

Class mapping
Object-relational mapping of database tables to Delphi classes can be performed not only to classes inherited from a basic TEntity class, but to custom classes inherited from TObject as well. Such an approach allows using EntityDAC for development of new applications, as well as simply introduce ORM to already existing projects. In addition, different mapping methods are supported: code mapping, attribute mapping and XML mapping.

Entity & Query Cache
To increase application performance, EntityDAC allows caching metadata, all entities loaded from the database, LINQ queries, and much more. Such caching allows you to avoid multiple loading of the same data and vastly improve performance in comparison to using the standard Data Access Components.

Object-Relation Mapping

Clearer business logic by dealing with objects, hiding all the database-access layer
Full encapsulation of the persistence mechanism. Saving, updating and loading of entities in an object-oriented way
Multi-object actions
Tool for automatic object model generation on the basis of database schema
Mapping of arbitrary plain old Delphi classes using attributes
Lazy loading of related entity/collection
Entity cache provides object identity and maximally improves the performance
Nullable types support
Auto-generated property values
Cascade save and delete operations
Table-per-type and Table-per-hierarchy entity inheritance
One-to-One, One-to-Many and Many-to-Many associations support
Lifetime management of entities
Using concepts and patterns such as Active Record, Entity, Value Object, Unit of Work, Repository and Aggregates
Built-in validation
Powerful visual designer EntityDeveloper with code generation support
Cross-database development - once developed, an application can connect to different databases without any code modifications
TEntity or any descendants from TObject can be used as a base class for mapped objects
Powerful design-time capabilities
IEnumerable-based easy-to-manipulate entity collections
Live-binding support for any components
TDataSet compatible components to manipulate data with standard and third-party data-aware controls binding support
Submit and rollback all changes in context are supported
Meta type inheritance support

Data-access

Using different databases without altering code
Database schema generation on the basis of object model
Most of well-known data-access component packs support out of the box
Ability to create custom data-access providers
A set of TDataSet compatible components to manipulate data
Ability to bind controls and get data in design-time

LINQ language

Based on native Delphi language but not string
Rich syntax (support where, join, ordering, union, aggregates, quantifiers and partitioning methods)
Context tips (Code Insight) during editing
Syntax check while compiling
Query caching for performance

Target platforms

Windows 32-bit and 64-bit
macOS 64-bit and ARM (Apple Silicon M1)
Linux 64-bit
iOS 64-bit
Android 32-bit and 64-bit

Development platforms

VCL
FireMonkey

Other

TEntityTable and TEntityQuery components for easy and fast interfacing to data-aware controls
Support for most known data-access component packs:
Devart data access components support:
UniDAC
ODAC
SDAC
MyDAC
IBDAC
PgDAC
LiteDAC
Standard data access components support:
ADO
IBX
dbExpress
FireDAC
3rd-party data access components support:
BDE
DOA
FIbPlus
NexusDB
Zeos