Comparing Query and Method Syntax: Day 27 of the 30-Day .NET Challenge

Learn why query syntax is preferred in LINQ. Discover a better approach using Query Syntax on Day 27 of our 30-Day .NET Challenge. Introduction The article demonstrates the use of query and method syntax for writing LINQ queries. In addition to that, it highlights why the query syntax is preferred over method syntax in case of complex queries. Learning Objectives What is Query and Method Syntax? Why Query Syntax is preferred Prerequisites for Developers Basic understanding of C# programming language. Familiar with LINQ 30 Day .Net Challenge Getting Started Before diving in, let's understand each syntax for LINQ. Method Syntax It is one of the syntaxes for writing queries that make use of extension methods and lambda expressions. var query = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); As the queries become more complex in nature, the syntax is not readable. Query Syntax It is the second type of syntax for writing queries using complex filtering, grouping, and join operations. var query = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; The aforementioned syntax is quite similar to SQL query structure, which makes it more understandable, readable, and maintainable. Why Query Syntax Is Preferred Consider an example wherein we need to join two collections, filter them, and map them into a new type. Let's solve the above problem statement using both of the syntaxes. Method Syntax The following implementation seems more dense and complex. var query = items.Join(otherCollection, item => item.Key, other => other.Key, (item, other) => new { item.Name, other.Description }) .Where(x => x.Description.Contains("specific keyword")) .Select(x => new { x.Name, x.Description }); Query Syntax Rewriting the same query using query syntax makes it more readable and understandable. var query = from item in items join other in otherCollection on item.Key equals other.Key where other.Description.Contains("specific keyword") select new { item.Name, other.Description }; Complete Code Create another class named QueryVsMethod, and add the following code snippet. public static class QueryVsMethod { static List items = new List { new Item { Id = 1, Name = "Item1", IsActive = true }, new Item { Id = 2, Name = "Item2", IsActive = false }, new Item { Id = 3, Name = "Item3", IsActive = true } }; public static void QuerySyntax() { // Method Syntax var methodSyntaxQuery = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); Console.WriteLine("Method Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in methodSyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } public static void MethodSyntax() { // Query Syntax var querySyntaxQuery = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; Console.WriteLine("\nQuery Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in querySyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } } And create a model class as follows: class Item { public int Id { get; set; } public string Name { get; set; } public bool IsActive { get; set; } } Execute From the Main Method as Follows #region Day 27: Query vs Method Syntax static string ExecuteDay27() { QueryVsMethod.MethodSyntax(); QueryVsMethod.QuerySyntax(); return "Executed Day 27 successfully..!!"; } #endregion Console Output Query Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Method Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Complete Code on GitHub GitHub — ssukhpinder/30DayChallenge.Net C# Programming🚀 Thank you for being a part of the C# community! Before you leave: Follow us: Youtube | X | LinkedIn | Dev.to Visit our other platforms: GitHub Learn why query syntax is preferred in LINQ. Discover a better approach using Query Syntax on Day 27 of our 30-Day .NET Challenge. Introduction The article demonstrates the use of query and method syntax for writing LINQ queries. In addition to that, it highlights why the query syntax is preferred over method syntax in case of complex queries. Learning Objectives What is Query and Method Syntax? Why Query Syntax is preferred What is Query and Method Syntax? Why Query Syntax is preferred Prerequisites for Developers Basic understanding of C# programming language. Familiar with LINQ Basic understanding of C# programming language. Familiar with LINQ 30 Day .Net Challenge 30 Day .Net Challenge Getting Started Before diving in, let's understand each syntax for LINQ. Method Syntax It is one of the syntaxes for writing queries that make use of extension methods and lambda expressions. var query = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); var query = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); As the queries become more complex in nature, the syntax is not readable. Query Syntax It is the second type of syntax for writing queries using complex filtering, grouping, and join operations. var query = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; var query = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; The aforementioned syntax is quite similar to SQL query structure, which makes it more understandable, readable, and maintainable. Why Query Syntax Is Preferred Consider an example wherein we need to join two collections, filter them, and map them into a new type. Let's solve the above problem statement using both of the syntaxes. Method Syntax The following implementation seems more dense and complex. var query = items.Join(otherCollection, item => item.Key, other => other.Key, (item, other) => new { item.Name, other.Description }) .Where(x => x.Description.Contains("specific keyword")) .Select(x => new { x.Name, x.Description }); var query = items.Join(otherCollection, item => item.Key, other => other.Key, (item, other) => new { item.Name, other.Description }) .Where(x => x.Description.Contains("specific keyword")) .Select(x => new { x.Name, x.Description }); Query Syntax Rewriting the same query using query syntax makes it more readable and understandable. var query = from item in items join other in otherCollection on item.Key equals other.Key where other.Description.Contains("specific keyword") select new { item.Name, other.Description }; var query = from item in items join other in otherCollection on item.Key equals other.Key where other.Description.Contains("specific keyword") select new { item.Name, other.Description }; Complete Code Create another class named QueryVsMethod, and add the following code snippet. public static class QueryVsMethod { static List items = new List { new Item { Id = 1, Name = "Item1", IsActive = true }, new Item { Id = 2, Name = "Item2", IsActive = false }, new Item { Id = 3, Name = "Item3", IsActive = true } }; public static void QuerySyntax() { // Method Syntax var methodSyntaxQuery = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); Console.WriteLine("Method Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in methodSyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } public static void MethodSyntax() { // Query Syntax var querySyntaxQuery = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; Console.WriteLine("\nQuery Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in querySyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } } public static class QueryVsMethod { static List items = new List { new Item { Id = 1, Name = "Item1", IsActive = true }, new Item { Id = 2, Name = "Item2", IsActive = false }, new Item { Id = 3, Name = "Item3", IsActive = true } }; public static void QuerySyntax() { // Method Syntax var methodSyntaxQuery = items.Where(item => item.IsActive) .Select(item => new { item.Name, item.Id }); Console.WriteLine("Method Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in methodSyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } public static void MethodSyntax() { // Query Syntax var querySyntaxQuery = from item in items where item.IsActive select new { item.Name, item.Id }; Console.WriteLine("\nQuery Syntax Results:"); foreach (var item in querySyntaxQuery) { Console.WriteLine($"Name: {item.Name}, Id: {item.Id}"); } } } And create a model class as follows: class Item { public int Id { get; set; } public string Name { get; set; } public bool IsActive { get; set; } } class Item { public int Id { get; set; } public string Name { get; set; } public bool IsActive { get; set; } } Execute From the Main Method as Follows #region Day 27: Query vs Method Syntax static string ExecuteDay27() { QueryVsMethod.MethodSyntax(); QueryVsMethod.QuerySyntax(); return "Executed Day 27 successfully..!!"; } #endregion #region Day 27: Query vs Method Syntax static string ExecuteDay27() { QueryVsMethod.MethodSyntax(); QueryVsMethod.QuerySyntax(); return "Executed Day 27 successfully..!!"; } #endregion Console Output Query Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Method Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Query Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Method Syntax Results: Name: Item1, Id: 1 Name: Item3, Id: 3 Complete Code on GitHub GitHub — ssukhpinder/30DayChallenge.Net GitHub — ssukhpinder/30DayChallenge.Net C# Programming🚀 Thank you for being a part of the C# community! 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