Entity Framework (EF) is an open-source object-relational mapping (ORM) framework developed by Microsoft for .NET applications. It allows developers to interact with a database using .NET objects, eliminating the need for most of the data access code. EF provides an abstraction layer, enabling developers to perform database operations (like CRUD—Create, Read, Update, Delete) through strongly-typed .NET classes rather than writing raw SQL queries. It supports multiple approaches like Code First, Database First, and Model First, making it flexible for various project structures. EF helps streamline database interactions and improves productivity by reducing boilerplate code.