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<Item> items = new List<Item>
        {
            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

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