dotnet · danroth27 · Jun 29, 2026 · Jul 1, 2026 · Jul 2, 2026 · Jul 2, 2026
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+# Entity Framework Core in .NET 11 Preview 6 - Release Notes
+
+<!-- Verified against Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore@11.0.0-preview.6.26328.106 API diff -->
+
+.NET 11 Preview 6 includes new EF Core features and improvements:
+
+- [FULL OUTER JOIN support in LINQ](#full-outer-join-support-in-linq)
+- [LINQ query translation improvements](#linq-query-translation-improvements)
+- [Keys and indexes traverse complex-type properties](#keys-and-indexes-traverse-complex-type-properties)
+- [Azure Cosmos DB provider improvements](#azure-cosmos-db-provider-improvements)
+- [SQL Server JSON indexes](#sql-server-json-indexes)
+- [Migrations improvements](#migrations-improvements)
+- [SQLite now bundles encryption support](#sqlite-now-bundles-encryption-support)
+- [Bug fixes](#bug-fixes)
+- [Community contributors](#community-contributors)
+
+All EF Core updates in .NET 11:
+
+- [What's new in EF Core](https://learn.microsoft.com/ef/core/what-is-new/ef-core-11.0/whatsnew)
+
+## FULL OUTER JOIN support in LINQ
+
+EF Core translates the new `Queryable.FullJoin` LINQ operator to SQL `FULL OUTER JOIN`
+([dotnet/efcore #38340](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38340)). This mirrors
+the existing `LeftJoin`/`RightJoin` support added in .NET 10. Rows unmatched on either
+side appear in the result with null values for the missing side.
+
+```csharp
+var result = await context.Customers
+    .FullJoin(
+        context.Orders,
+        c => c.Id,
+        o => o.CustomerId,
+        (c, o) => new { Customer = c, Order = o })
+    .ToListAsync();
+```
+
+```sql
+SELECT [c].[Id], [c].[Name], [o].[Id], [o].[CustomerId], [o].[Total]
+FROM [Customers] AS [c]
+FULL JOIN [Orders] AS [o] ON [c].[Id] = [o].[CustomerId]
+```
+
+## LINQ query translation improvements
+
+### Translate to NULLIF
+
+EF Core now generates SQL `NULLIF` for conditional expressions that return `null`
+when a value equals a constant
+([dotnet/efcore #35327](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/35327)). The
+optimization applies at SQL expression construction time across all relational
+providers.
+
+```sql
+-- Before: CASE WHEN [x].[Status] = 0 THEN NULL ELSE [x].[Status] END
+-- After:  NULLIF([x].[Status], 0)
+```
+
+Thank you [@WhatzGames](https://github.com/WhatzGames) for the original
+PostgreSQL implementation that this work is based on!
+
+### Null propagation removes redundant IS NOT NULL checks
+
+When a `CASE` expression simply replicates SQL's native null propagation,
+EF Core now simplifies it away
+([dotnet/efcore #34127](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/34127)). This
+produces shorter SQL and can improve query-plan efficiency.
+
+```sql
+-- Before: CASE WHEN [o].[Date] IS NOT NULL THEN [o].[Date] ELSE NULL END
+-- After:  [o].[Date]
+```
+
+Thank you [@ranma42](https://github.com/ranma42) for this contribution!
+
+### Translate List&lt;T&gt;.Exists to SQL
+
+`List<T>.Exists(predicate)` is now rewritten to `Queryable.Any(predicate)` and
+translated to an `EXISTS` subquery
+([dotnet/efcore #38226](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38226)). Previously
+this caused client evaluation.
+
+```csharp
+var blogs = await context.Blogs
+    .Where(b => b.Posts.Exists(p => p.Rating > 3))
+    .ToListAsync();
+```
+
+Thank you [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/m-x-shokhzod) for this contribution!
+
+### Translate TimeOnly members on SQLite
+
+`TimeOnly.Hour`, `TimeOnly.Minute`, and `TimeOnly.Second` are now translated
+to `strftime` on SQLite
+([dotnet/efcore #38341](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38341)). Previously
+these threw a "could not be translated" exception.
+
+```sql
+WHERE CAST(strftime('%H', "b"."TimeOnly") AS INTEGER) = 15
+```
+
+Thank you [@Aykuttonpc](https://github.com/Aykuttonpc) for this contribution!
+
+### Translate string.Join/Concat with ordering on SQLite
+
+`string.Join` and `string.Concat` over ordered groupings now translate to
+SQLite's `group_concat` with an `ORDER BY` clause
+([dotnet/efcore #38344](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38344)). Previously
+these fell back to client evaluation.
+
+```sql
+COALESCE(group_concat("b"."String", '|' ORDER BY "b"."Id" DESC), '')
+```
+
+Thank you [@Aykuttonpc](https://github.com/Aykuttonpc) for this contribution!
+
+## Keys and indexes traverse complex-type properties
+
+`HasKey`, `HasAlternateKey`, and `HasIndex` now accept lambdas and dotted
+property paths that traverse non-collection complex properties
+([dotnet/efcore #38192](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38192)). This
+enables scenarios like defining an index on a property that lives inside a
+complex type.
+
+```csharp
+modelBuilder.Entity<Customer>()
+    .HasIndex(c => c.Address.ZipCode);
+
+modelBuilder.Entity<Order>()
+    .HasAlternateKey(o => o.ShippingAddress.Street);
+```
+
+Properties used in a key or index are automatically marked as required, along
+with the complex properties on the path. Validation errors are raised for
+collection complex properties or optional complex properties in keys.
+
+## Azure Cosmos DB provider improvements
+
+### JSON, composite, include, and exclude indexes
+
+The Cosmos provider now supports configuring JSON indexes, composite indexes,
+include/exclude paths, and full-text indexes through the model builder
+([dotnet/efcore #38360](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38360)).
+
+### Unconstrained foreign key relationships
+
+A new `IsConstrained(bool)` API on foreign keys marks relationships that are
+not backed by a database constraint
+([dotnet/efcore #38361](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38361)). When
+`IsConstrained` is `false`, queries use `LEFT JOIN` instead of assuming the
+principal exists, and relational migrations skip the `AddForeignKey` statement.
+The Cosmos provider now defaults all non-owned foreign keys to unconstrained,
+since Cosmos does not enforce foreign key constraints between documents.
+
+```csharp
+modelBuilder.Entity<Order>()
+    .HasOne(o => o.Customer)
+    .WithMany(c => c.Orders)
+    .IsConstrained(false);
+```
+
+### Improved cast and convert support
+
+The Cosmos provider now properly handles `Convert` operations in LINQ
+expressions, enabling math functions and string concatenation with non-string
+types that previously caused client evaluation
+([dotnet/efcore #35000](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/35000)).
+
+Thank you [@ChrisJollyAU](https://github.com/ChrisJollyAU) for this
+contribution!
+
+## SQL Server JSON indexes
+
+Indexes can now be defined on properties inside JSON-mapped columns on SQL
+Server ([dotnet/efcore #38302](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38302)).
+This enables query performance tuning for JSON document properties without
+leaving the EF Core model builder.
+
+## Migrations improvements
+
+### Index changes use DROP_EXISTING on SQL Server
+
+When an index facet changes (fill factor, uniqueness, filter, sort order),
+SQL Server migrations now emit a single `CREATE INDEX ... WITH (DROP_EXISTING = ON)`
+instead of a `DROP INDEX` + `CREATE INDEX` pair
+([dotnet/efcore #38271](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38271)). This
+keeps the old index available to queries while the replacement is built.
+
+```sql
+-- Before (two statements, un-indexed gap):
+DROP INDEX [IX_People_X] ON [People];
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX [IX_People_X] ON [People] ([X]);
+
+-- After (atomic, no gap):
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX [IX_People_X] ON [People] ([X]) WITH (DROP_EXISTING = ON);
+```
+
+Thank you [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/m-x-shokhzod) for this contribution!
+
+### Skip ALTER COLUMN for computed columns when only CLR type changes
+
+Migrations no longer emit `ALTER COLUMN` for computed columns when only the
+CLR type changes and the SQL expression is unchanged
+([dotnet/efcore #38252](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38252)). Previously
+this caused a SQL Server error ("Cannot alter column because it is COMPUTED").
+
+Thank you [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/m-x-shokhzod) for this contribution!
+
+### Wildcard `*` support in `dotnet ef` commands
+
+The `--context *` parameter now works with `UpdateDatabase`, `GetMigrations`,
+`ScriptMigration`, and `DropDatabase`, iterating over all discovered contexts
+([dotnet/efcore #38269](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38269),
+[dotnet/efcore #38327](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38327)).
+
+Thank you [@BrunoSync](https://github.com/BrunoSync) for this contribution!
+
+### Temporal period columns can be configured as not hidden
+
+SQL Server temporal period columns can now be configured to omit the `HIDDEN`
+flag, making them visible in `SELECT *` results
+([dotnet/efcore #38225](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38225)).
+
+Thank you [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/m-x-shokhzod) for this contribution!
+
+## SQLite now bundles encryption support
+
+`Microsoft.Data.Sqlite` and `Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite` now ship with
+the [SQLite3 Multiple Ciphers](https://github.com/niclas-timm/sqlite3mc) bundle
+instead of `e_sqlite3`
+([dotnet/efcore #38402](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38402)). This gives
+applications built-in SQLite encryption without an additional package reference.
+
+<!-- Cut candidates:
+- #38411: IManyToManyLoaderFactory injectable (internal plumbing, NativeAOT)
+- #38430: runtime constants in precompiled queries (narrow scenario)
+- #38440: generic type mapping for NativeAOT value comparers (internal plumbing)
+- #38408: Move IOperationReporter/ISnapshotModelProcessor to EFCore.Relational (provider-author only)
+- #37492: UInt128 in SqliteValueBinder (narrow type)
+- #38395: Scope down owned JSON deprecation (diagnostic change)
+-->
+
+## Bug fixes
+
+- **Query translation**
+  - Fixed funcletization of evaluatable lambda parameters
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38291](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38291)).
+  - Fixed `NullReferenceException` for `SelectMany` with inline array values
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38286](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38286)).
+  - Fixed `InvalidOperationException` when filtering on a JSON column of an
+    entity mapped to a view
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38321](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38321)).
+  - Fixed `GroupBy.Select` with empty projection member
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38140](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38140)).
+  - Fixed `GroupBy().Select(entity)` followed by a second projection
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38436](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38436)).
+  - Fixed unnecessary joins in consecutive `Select` projections with conditionals
+    ([dotnet/efcore #37601](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/37601)).
+  - Fixed nullable outer-key null check in compound APPLY→JOIN predicates
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38449](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38449)).
+  - `Wrap SIGN()` in `CAST(... AS int)` for SQL Server
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38260](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38260)).
+- **Azure Cosmos DB**
+  - Translate top-level `Any()` to `LIMIT 1` instead of `EXISTS`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38297](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38297)).
+  - Fixed `ToList` on structural collection treated as scalar
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38122](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38122)).
+  - Don't transform query to `ReadItem` when `WithPartitionKey` conflicts with
+    predicate partition key
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38439](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38439)).
+- **JSON columns**
+  - Fixed duplicate JSON column in TPT child tables for complex types declared
+    on a base entity type
+    ([dotnet/efcore #37958](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/37958)).
+  - Fixed `NullReferenceException` materializing JSON owned collections with
+    nested primitive collections under lazy-loading proxies
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38473](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38473)).
+  - Use string type mapping when sending null values for JSON column updates on
+    SQL Server
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38426](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38426)).
+- **Migrations**
+  - Fixed `NullReferenceException` for mistyped default values on non-string
+    columns
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38399](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38399)).
+  - Fixed redundant `(string)null` schema argument in `ToTable` snapshot
+    generation
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38424](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38424)).
+  - Fixed migration generation for non-nullable `SqlVector` columns
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38451](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38451)).
+  - Made model snapshots with mismatched FK/PK property types usable
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38450](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38450)).
+- **Change tracking and model building**
+  - Detached entries are now held weakly in the change tracker, preventing
+    memory leaks in long-lived `DbContext` instances
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38387](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38387)).
+  - Fixed inverting identifying FK using wrong type and short-circuit principal
+    type on attach
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38423](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38423)).
+  - Mark entities as unchanged when matched by entities loaded from database
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38452](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38452)).
+  - Honor explicit store type when discovering `Dictionary<string, object>`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38433](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38433)).
+- **Compiled model**
+  - Fixed `CreateRelationalModel()` failure when an owned entity shares its
+    owner's table
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38428](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38428)).
+  - Fixed several small issues in the compiled model
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38441](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38441)).
+- **SQL Server**
+  - Fixed `ExecuteUpdate` returning -1 on open connections by setting
+    `NOCOUNT OFF`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #37827](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/37827)).
+  - Render TVP type name correctly in `ToQueryString`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38251](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38251)).
+  - Send XML parameters as `SqlXml`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38462](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38462)).
+- **SQLite**
+  - Catch `InvalidOperationException` for unpackaged WinUI3 apps in
+    `SqliteConnection`
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38304](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38304)).
+- **NativeAOT**
+  - Fixed NativeAOT publish: rebuild RID-specific assembly with generated
+    sources
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38322](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38322)).
+- **Analyzer**
+  - EF1003 now detects `string.Format` and `string.Concat` in raw SQL APIs
+    ([dotnet/efcore #38208](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38208)).
+    Thank you [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/m-x-shokhzod) for this
+    contribution!
+
+## Community contributors
+
+Thank you to the community contributors who made EF Core better in this preview! ❤️
+
+- [@Aykuttonpc](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3AAykuttonpc):
+  Translated `TimeOnly` members and `string.Join`/`Concat` with ordering on SQLite
+  ([dotnet/efcore #38341](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38341),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38344](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38344)).
+- [@BrunoSync](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3ABrunoSync):
+  Added wildcard `*` support for `--context` in `dotnet ef` commands
+  ([dotnet/efcore #38269](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38269),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38327](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38327)).
+- [@ChrisJollyAU](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3AChrisJollyAU):
+  Improved cast and convert support for the Cosmos provider
+  ([dotnet/efcore #35000](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/35000)).
+- [@JoasE](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3AJoasE):
+  Allowed runtime constants in precompiled queries
+  ([dotnet/efcore #38430](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38430)).
+- [@m-x-shokhzod](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3Am-x-shokhzod):
+  Translated `List<T>.Exists`, improved EF1003, added `DROP_EXISTING` for index
+  changes, skipped ALTER for computed columns, configured temporal columns as
+  not hidden
+  ([dotnet/efcore #38226](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38226),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38208](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38208),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38271](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38271),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38252](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38252),
+  [dotnet/efcore #38225](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/38225)).
+- [@MaikyOzr](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3AMaikyOzr):
+  Added `UInt128` support in `SqliteValueBinder`
+  ([dotnet/efcore #37492](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/37492)).
+- [@ranma42](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Amerged+author%3Aranma42):
+  Optimized away redundant `IS NOT NULL` checks via null propagation
+  ([dotnet/efcore #34127](https://github.com/dotnet/efcore/pull/34127)).