System.Data.Objects.DataClasses Namespace
The System.Data.Objects.DataClasses namespace includes classes that are base classes for types that are defined in an Entity Data Model (EDM), base classes for the types that are returned by navigation properties, and classes that define attributes that map common language runtime (CLR) objects to types in the conceptual model.
Entity Data Model tools use the conceptual model file to generate data classes that derive from classes in this namespace. For more information, see Object Services Overview (Entity Framework). Custom data classes can inherit from classes in this namespace. The System.Data.Objects.DataClasses namespace also includes interfaces that are used to implement custom data classes without inheriting from Entity Framework classes. For more information, see Customizing Objects (Entity Framework).
| Class | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | ComplexObject | Base class for complex types. |
![]() | EdmComplexPropertyAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the property represents a complex property. |
![]() | EdmComplexTypeAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the class represents a complex type. |
![]() | EdmEntityTypeAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the class represents an entity type. |
![]() | EdmPropertyAttribute | Base class for attributes that define how properties of types in the object layer are mapped to the properties of entity types or complex types in the conceptual model. |
![]() | EdmRelationshipAttribute | Defines a relationship between two entity types based on an association in the conceptual model. |
![]() | EdmRelationshipNavigationPropertyAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the property represents a navigation property. |
![]() | EdmScalarPropertyAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the property represents a scalar property. |
![]() | EdmSchemaAttribute | Attribute that indicates that the assembly contains classes that are mapped to entity types in a conceptual model. |
![]() | EdmTypeAttribute | Base class for attributes that define how types in the object layer are mapped to entity types and complex types in the conceptual model. |
![]() | EntityCollection(Of TEntity) | Represents a collection of objects on the "many" end of a relationship. |
![]() | EntityObject | Base class for entity types that are generated by the Entity Data Model tools. |
![]() | EntityReference | Base class that implements non-generic functionality for an EntityReference(Of TEntity). |
![]() | EntityReference(Of TEntity) | Represents a related end of an association with a multiplicity of zero or one. |
![]() | RelatedEnd | Base class that implements common functionality for a related end. |
![]() | RelationshipManager | Used to track relationships between objects in the object context. |
![]() | StructuralObject | Provides support for code generation in the form of helper methods that are used to set field values for properties. |
| Interface | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | IEntityChangeTracker | Defines the facilities that are used by Object Services to track changes that are made to the properties of an object. |
![]() | IEntityWithChangeTracker | Defines an entity type that implements change tracking. |
![]() | IEntityWithKey | Defines an entity type that exposes an entity key. |
![]() | IEntityWithRelationships | Defines an entity type with a relationship to one or more other entity type. |
![]() | IRelatedEnd | Defines the end of a relationship. |
| Enumeration | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() | RelationshipKind | Enumerates the type of the relationship between two or more entities. |


