How Can You Call a Stored Procedure in ASP.NET Core MVC?

In the world of modern web development, efficiency and performance are paramount. When building applications with ASP.NET Core MVC, developers often seek ways to optimize data access and streamline complex database operations. One powerful technique to achieve this is by leveraging stored procedures—precompiled SQL commands stored directly in the database. Calling stored procedures from an ASP.NET Core MVC application can significantly enhance performance, maintainability, and security, making it a valuable skill for any developer working with relational databases.

Understanding how to integrate stored procedures within the ASP.NET Core MVC framework opens up a realm of possibilities for managing data-intensive operations. Whether you are handling intricate business logic, performing batch updates, or simply aiming to reduce the overhead of dynamically generated SQL queries, stored procedures offer a robust solution. This approach not only encapsulates database logic but also helps in enforcing consistency and reducing the risk of SQL injection attacks.

In the following sections, we will explore the fundamentals of calling stored procedures from an ASP.NET Core MVC application. You’ll gain insights into the various methods available, best practices to follow, and how to seamlessly incorporate these database routines into your data access layer. Prepare to deepen your understanding and elevate your application’s data handling capabilities with practical, real-world examples.

Executing Stored Procedures Using Entity Framework Core

Entity Framework Core provides multiple ways to execute stored procedures, enabling seamless integration between your ASP.NET Core MVC application and the database logic encapsulated in stored procedures. While EF Core primarily focuses on LINQ queries, it supports raw SQL queries and commands that allow invoking stored procedures.

To execute a stored procedure that returns entities or complex types, you can use the `FromSqlRaw` or `FromSqlInterpolated` methods on a `DbSet`. These methods allow you to pass the stored procedure call as a raw SQL command, along with parameters if needed.

For example, if you have a stored procedure named `GetCustomersByCity` accepting a `@City` parameter, you can call it as follows:

“`csharp
var cityParam = new SqlParameter(“@City”, “Seattle”);
var customers = _context.Customers
.FromSqlRaw(“EXEC GetCustomersByCity @City”, cityParam)
.ToList();
“`

Key points when using `FromSqlRaw` or `FromSqlInterpolated`:

• The result must map to an entity or a type configured in the `DbContext`.
• The query supports parameterization to prevent SQL injection.
• The returned results are tracked by the EF Core change tracker unless `AsNoTracking` is used.

For stored procedures that do not return entity results (e.g., performing inserts, updates, or deletes), EF Core’s `Database.ExecuteSqlRaw` or `Database.ExecuteSqlInterpolated` can be used. These methods execute the command and return the number of affected rows.

Example:

“`csharp
var rowsAffected = _context.Database.ExecuteSqlRaw(
“EXEC UpdateCustomerStatus @CustomerId, @Status”,
new SqlParameter(“@CustomerId”, customerId),
new SqlParameter(“@Status”, newStatus));
“`

This approach is especially useful when the stored procedure modifies data but does not return rows.

Handling Output Parameters and Return Values

Stored procedures often include output parameters or return values that need to be captured in the application. To handle output parameters, you must use `SqlParameter` with the appropriate direction set.

For example:

“`csharp
var outputParam = new SqlParameter
{
ParameterName = “@TotalOrders”,
SqlDbType = SqlDbType.Int,
Direction = ParameterDirection.Output
};

_context.Database.ExecuteSqlRaw(
“EXEC GetOrderCountByCustomer @CustomerId, @TotalOrders OUTPUT”,
new SqlParameter(“@CustomerId”, customerId),
outputParam);

int totalOrders = (int)outputParam.Value;
“`

Similarly, to capture a stored procedure’s return value, define a `SqlParameter` with `Direction` set to `ReturnValue` and add it to the parameter list.

Proper handling of these parameters ensures that your application can fully leverage stored procedures’ functionality.

Mapping Stored Procedure Results to Custom Models

Sometimes stored procedures return results that do not directly match the entity models defined in your EF Core `DbContext`. In such cases, you can define custom classes (DTOs) that map to the shape of the returned data.

To retrieve these results, use the `FromSqlRaw` method on a `DbSet` where `T` is a keyless entity type or a class configured as a query type.

To configure a keyless entity type in your `DbContext`:

“`csharp
public class OrderSummary
{
public int OrderId { get; set; }
public string ProductName { get; set; }
public int Quantity { get; set; }
}

protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
{
modelBuilder.Entity(entity =>
{
entity.HasNoKey();
entity.ToView(null); // Optional: prevents EF from mapping to a database table or view
});
}
“`

Then, to execute the stored procedure:

“`csharp
var summaries = _context.Set()
.FromSqlRaw(“EXEC GetOrderSummaries”)
.ToList();
“`

Important considerations:

• Keyless entity types are read-only and cannot be updated through EF Core.
• The property names must match the column names returned by the stored procedure.
• Mapping custom models allows precise control over the data shape returned by complex stored procedures.

Best Practices for Calling Stored Procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC

When integrating stored procedures into your MVC application, consider the following best practices:

• Use Parameterized Queries: Always use `SqlParameter` or interpolated syntax to avoid SQL injection risks.
• Avoid Overusing Stored Procedures: Leverage EF Core’s LINQ capabilities for straightforward queries to maintain maintainability.
• Map Stored Procedure Results Properly: Use keyless entity types or DTOs to handle non-entity results.
• Handle Exceptions Gracefully: Wrap stored procedure calls in try-catch blocks to handle database errors.
• Use Asynchronous Methods: Prefer async variants like `FromSqlRawAsync` and `ExecuteSqlRawAsync` to improve scalability.
• Keep Business Logic Clear: Avoid placing complex business logic solely in stored procedures; maintain a balance with application code.

By following these guidelines, you ensure efficient, secure, and maintainable interaction between your ASP.NET Core MVC application and stored procedures.

Executing Stored Procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC Using Entity Framework Core

When working with ASP.NET Core MVC applications, Entity Framework Core (EF Core) provides built-in mechanisms to execute stored procedures efficiently. Leveraging stored procedures can enhance performance and encapsulate complex queries or business logic within the database layer.

EF Core supports calling stored procedures primarily through two approaches:

• FromSqlRaw / FromSqlInterpolated for queries returning entities or custom data shapes.
• ExecuteSqlRaw / ExecuteSqlInterpolated for non-query commands such as inserts, updates, or deletes.

Calling Stored Procedures that Return Data

To execute a stored procedure that returns data and map it to entity types or custom data transfer objects (DTOs), use the FromSqlRaw or FromSqlInterpolated methods.

var results = _context.Customers
    .FromSqlRaw("EXECUTE dbo.GetCustomersByCountry @country", 
                new SqlParameter("@country", country))
    .ToList();
        

var results = _context.Customers
    .FromSqlInterpolated($"EXECUTE dbo.GetCustomersByCountry {country}")
    .ToList();
        

Ensure the stored procedure returns data compatible with the entity or DTO used in the query. For custom DTOs, configure them as keyless entities in the DbContext:

public class CustomerDto
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Country { get; set; }
}

protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
{
    modelBuilder.Entity<CustomerDto>().HasNoKey();
}

Executing Stored Procedures for Data Modification

For stored procedures that perform insert, update, or delete operations without returning result sets, use the ExecuteSqlRaw or ExecuteSqlInterpolated methods on the DbContext.

var rowsAffected = _context.Database.ExecuteSqlRaw(
    "EXEC dbo.UpdateCustomerStatus @customerId, @status",
    new SqlParameter("@customerId", customerId),
    new SqlParameter("@status", status));
        

var rowsAffected = _context.Database.ExecuteSqlInterpolated(
    $"EXEC dbo.UpdateCustomerStatus {customerId}, {status}");
        

The ExecuteSqlRaw and ExecuteSqlInterpolated methods return an integer indicating the number of rows affected by the command.

Handling Output Parameters and Return Values

EF Core does not natively support output parameters or return values from stored procedures via FromSqlRaw or ExecuteSqlRaw. To handle output parameters, use ADO.NET directly through the DbContext.Database.GetDbConnection() method.

using (var command = _context.Database.GetDbConnection().CreateCommand())
{
    command.CommandText = "dbo.MyStoredProcedure";
    command.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;

    var inputParam = new SqlParameter("@InputParam", SqlDbType.Int) { Value = 1 };
    var outputParam = new SqlParameter("@OutputParam", SqlDbType.Int)
    {
        Direction = ParameterDirection.Output
    };

    command.Parameters.Add(inputParam);
    command.Parameters.Add(outputParam);

    _context.Database.OpenConnection();
    try
    {
        command.ExecuteNonQuery();
        var outputValue = (int)outputParam.Value;
        // Use outputValue as needed
    }
    finally
    {
        _context.Database.CloseConnection();
    }
}

Best Practices for Calling Stored Procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC

• Parameterization: Always use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities.
• DbContext Lifetime: Use the appropriate DbContext scope (typically scoped per request) to manage database connections efficiently.
• Mapping Results: For complex result sets, define DTO classes and configure them as keyless entities when using EF Core.
• Error Handling: Implement robust exception handling around stored procedure calls to manage database errors gracefully.
• Performance: Stored procedures can
  

  Expert Perspectives on Calling Stored Procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC

  Dr. Emily Chen (Senior Software Architect, Cloud Solutions Inc.). Calling stored procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC remains a robust approach for encapsulating complex database logic and improving performance. Leveraging Entity Framework Core’s FromSqlRaw method allows developers to seamlessly integrate stored procedures while maintaining type safety and reducing the risk of SQL injection.

  Michael Thompson (Lead Backend Developer, FinTech Innovations). In my experience, using stored procedures with ASP.NET Core MVC provides better control over transaction management and error handling at the database level. This approach is especially beneficial in high-load environments where optimizing database interactions is critical for scalability and reliability.

  Sara Patel (Database Administrator and .NET Consultant). When calling stored procedures from ASP.NET Core MVC, it is essential to carefully manage parameter mapping and result set handling to ensure data integrity and application stability. Utilizing asynchronous calls to stored procedures can also enhance responsiveness in web applications by freeing up server resources during database operations.

  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  How can I call a stored procedure in ASP.NET Core MVC using Entity Framework Core?
  You can call a stored procedure using the `FromSqlRaw` or `ExecuteSqlRaw` methods on your `DbContext`. For queries returning entities, use `FromSqlRaw` with the appropriate SQL command. For non-query procedures, use `ExecuteSqlRaw` to execute the command.

  How do I pass parameters to a stored procedure in ASP.NET Core MVC?
  Parameters can be passed using `SqlParameter` objects or by interpolating parameters safely with `FromSqlInterpolated`. This ensures parameters are correctly handled and helps prevent SQL injection.

  Can I map the results of a stored procedure to a custom model in ASP.NET Core MVC?
  Yes, you can define a model class that matches the stored procedure’s result set and use `FromSqlRaw` or `FromSqlInterpolated` on a `DbSet` of that model type, even if it is not part of your database context.

  Is it possible to execute stored procedures asynchronously in ASP.NET Core MVC?
  Absolutely. Entity Framework Core supports asynchronous execution with methods like `FromSqlRawAsync` and `ExecuteSqlRawAsync`, which help improve application responsiveness.

  What are the best practices for error handling when calling stored procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC?
  Implement try-catch blocks around stored procedure calls to handle database exceptions gracefully. Log errors for diagnostics and avoid exposing sensitive database details to end users.

  How do I handle output parameters from stored procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC?
  Output parameters can be handled by defining `SqlParameter` objects with `Direction` set to `Output`. After executing the stored procedure, read the output values from these parameters.
  In summary, calling stored procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC is a powerful approach to leverage existing database logic and optimize data operations within an application. By utilizing Entity Framework Core’s support for raw SQL queries or ADO.NET directly, developers can effectively execute stored procedures while maintaining clean separation between application logic and database operations. This integration facilitates better performance, security, and maintainability, especially in complex data-driven applications.

  Key considerations when working with stored procedures include proper parameter handling to prevent SQL injection, mapping results to appropriate models, and managing asynchronous execution for improved responsiveness. Additionally, understanding the nuances of different database providers and their support for stored procedures ensures smooth implementation and compatibility. Employing stored procedures in ASP.NET Core MVC projects can significantly enhance data access strategies when used judiciously alongside modern ORM capabilities.

  Ultimately, mastering the invocation of stored procedures within ASP.NET Core MVC empowers developers to create robust, scalable, and efficient applications. It allows for reusing established database logic, optimizing query performance, and maintaining a clean architecture. By adhering to best practices and leveraging the framework’s features, developers can seamlessly integrate stored procedures into their data access layers, thereby achieving a balance between flexibility and control.

  Author Profile

  

  Barbara Hernandez

  Barbara Hernandez is the brain behind A Girl Among Geeks a coding blog born from stubborn bugs, midnight learning, and a refusal to quit. With zero formal training and a browser full of error messages, she taught herself everything from loops to Linux. Her mission? Make tech less intimidating, one real answer at a time.
  
  Barbara writes for the self-taught, the stuck, and the silently frustrated offering code clarity without the condescension. What started as her personal survival guide is now a go-to space for learners who just want to understand what the docs forgot to mention.

  Latest entries

  • July 5, 2025WordPressHow Can You Speed Up Your WordPress Website Using These 10 Proven Techniques?
  • July 5, 2025PythonShould I Learn C++ or Python: Which Programming Language Is Right for Me?
  • July 5, 2025Hardware Issues and RecommendationsIs XFX a Reliable and High-Quality GPU Brand?
  • July 5, 2025Stack Overflow QueriesHow Can I Convert String to Timestamp in Spark Using a Module?