Part 8, Razor Pages with EF Core in ASP.NET Core - Concurrency

Tom Dykstra, and Jon P Smith

The Contoso University web app demonstrates how to create Razor Pages web apps using EF Core and Visual Studio. For information about the tutorial series, see the first tutorial.

If you run into problems you can't solve, download the completed app and compare that code to what you created by following the tutorial.

This tutorial shows how to handle conflicts when multiple users update an entity concurrently.

Concurrency conflicts

A concurrency conflict occurs when:

• A user navigates to the edit page for an entity.
• Another user updates the same entity before the first user's change is written to the database.

If concurrency detection isn't enabled, whoever updates the database last overwrites the other user's changes. If this risk is acceptable, the cost of programming for concurrency might outweigh the benefit.

Pessimistic concurrency

One way to prevent concurrency conflicts is to use database locks. This is called pessimistic concurrency. Before the app reads a database row that it intends to update, it requests a lock. Once a row is locked for update access, no other users are allowed to lock the row until the first lock is released.

Managing locks has disadvantages. It can be complex to program and can cause performance problems as the number of users increases. Entity Framework Core provides no built-in support for pessimistic concurrency.

Optimistic concurrency

Optimistic concurrency allows concurrency conflicts to happen, and then reacts appropriately when they do. For example, Jane visits the Department edit page and changes the budget for the English department from $350,000.00 to $0.00.

Before Jane clicks Save, John visits the same page and changes the Start Date field from 9/1/2007 to 9/1/2013.

Jane clicks Save first and sees her change take effect, since the browser displays the Index page with zero as the Budget amount.

John clicks Save on an Edit page that still shows a budget of $350,000.00. What happens next is determined by how you handle concurrency conflicts:

• Keep track of which property a user has modified and update only the corresponding columns in the database.

  In the scenario, no data would be lost. Different properties were updated by the two users. The next time someone browses the English department, they will see both Jane's and John's changes. This method of updating can reduce the number of conflicts that could result in data loss. This approach has some disadvantages:

  • Can't avoid data loss if competing changes are made to the same property.
  • Is generally not practical in a web app. It requires maintaining significant state in order to keep track of all fetched values and new values. Maintaining large amounts of state can affect app performance.
  • Can increase app complexity compared to concurrency detection on an entity.

• Let John's change overwrite Jane's change.

  The next time someone browses the English department, they will see 9/1/2013 and the fetched $350,000.00 value. This approach is called a Client Wins or Last in Wins scenario. All values from the client take precedence over what's in the data store. The scaffolded code does no concurrency handling, Client Wins happens automatically.

• Prevent John's change from being updated in the database. Typically, the app would:

  • Display an error message.
  • Show the current state of the data.
  • Allow the user to reapply the changes.

  This is called a Store Wins scenario. The data-store values take precedence over the values submitted by the client. The Store Wins scenario is used in this tutorial. This method ensures that no changes are overwritten without a user being alerted.

Conflict detection in EF Core

Properties configured as concurrency tokens are used to implement optimistic concurrency control. When an update or delete operation is triggered by SaveChanges or SaveChangesAsync, the value of the concurrency token in the database is compared against the original value read by EF Core:

• If the values match, the operation can complete.
• If the values do not match, EF Core assumes that another user has performed a conflicting operation, aborts the current transaction, and throws a DbUpdateConcurrencyException.

Another user or process performing an operation that conflicts with the current operation is known as concurrency conflict.

On relational databases EF Core checks for the value of the concurrency token in the WHERE clause of UPDATE and DELETE statements to detect a concurrency conflict.

The data model must be configured to enable conflict detection by including a tracking column that can be used to determine when a row has been changed. EF provides two approaches for concurrency tokens:

• Applying [ConcurrencyCheck] or IsConcurrencyToken to a property on the model. This approach is not recommended. For more information, see Concurrency Tokens in EF Core.

• Applying TimestampAttribute or IsRowVersion to a concurrency token in the model. This is the approach used in this tutorial.

The SQL Server approach and SQLite implementation details are slightly different. A difference file is shown later in the tutorial listing the differences. The Visual Studio tab shows the SQL Server approach. The Visual Studio Code tab shows the approach for non-SQL Server databases, such as SQLite.

Visual Studio

• In the model, include a tracking column that is used to determine when a row has been changed.
• Apply the TimestampAttribute to the concurrency property.

Update the Models/Department.cs file with the following highlighted code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;

namespace ContosoUniversity.Models
{
    public class Department
    {
        public int DepartmentID { get; set; }

        [StringLength(50, MinimumLength = 3)]
        public string Name { get; set; }

        [DataType(DataType.Currency)]
        [Column(TypeName = "money")]
        public decimal Budget { get; set; }

        [DataType(DataType.Date)]
        [DisplayFormat(DataFormatString = "{0:yyyy-MM-dd}",
                       ApplyFormatInEditMode = true)]
        [Display(Name = "Start Date")]
        public DateTime StartDate { get; set; }

        public int? InstructorID { get; set; }

        [Timestamp]
        public byte[] ConcurrencyToken { get; set; }

        public Instructor Administrator { get; set; }
        public ICollection<Course> Courses { get; set; }
    }
}

The TimestampAttribute is what identifies the column as a concurrency tracking column. The fluent API is an alternative way to specify the tracking property:

modelBuilder.Entity<Department>()
  .Property<byte[]>("ConcurrencyToken")
  .IsRowVersion();

The [Timestamp] attribute on an entity property generates the following code in the ModelBuilder method:

 b.Property<byte[]>("ConcurrencyToken")
     .IsConcurrencyToken()
     .ValueGeneratedOnAddOrUpdate()
     .HasColumnType("rowversion");

The preceding code:

• Sets the property type ConcurrencyToken to byte array. byte[] is the required type for SQL Server.
• Calls IsConcurrencyToken. IsConcurrencyToken configures the property as a concurrency token. On updates, the concurrency token value in the database is compared to the original value to ensure it has not changed since the instance was retrieved from the database. If it has changed, a DbUpdateConcurrencyException is thrown and changes are not applied.
• Calls ValueGeneratedOnAddOrUpdate, which configures the ConcurrencyToken property to have a value automatically generated when adding or updating an entity.
• HasColumnType("rowversion") sets the column type in the SQL Server database to rowversion.

The following code shows a portion of the T-SQL generated by EF Core when the Department name is updated:

SET NOCOUNT ON;
UPDATE [Departments] SET [Name] = @p0
WHERE [DepartmentID] = @p1 AND [ConcurrencyToken] = @p2;
SELECT [ConcurrencyToken]
FROM [Departments]
WHERE @@ROWCOUNT = 1 AND [DepartmentID] = @p1;

The preceding highlighted code shows the WHERE clause containing ConcurrencyToken. If the database ConcurrencyToken doesn't equal the ConcurrencyToken parameter @p2, no rows are updated.

The following highlighted code shows the T-SQL that verifies exactly one row was updated:

SET NOCOUNT ON;
UPDATE [Departments] SET [Name] = @p0
WHERE [DepartmentID] = @p1 AND [ConcurrencyToken] = @p2;
SELECT [ConcurrencyToken]
FROM [Departments]
WHERE @@ROWCOUNT = 1 AND [DepartmentID] = @p1;

@@ROWCOUNT returns the number of rows affected by the last statement. If no rows are updated, EF Core throws a DbUpdateConcurrencyException.

Visual Studio Code

• In the model, include a tracking column that can be used to determine when a row has been changed. In this sample, a GUID is used. Update the Models/Department.cs file with the following highlighted code:

  using System;
  using System.Collections.Generic;
  using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
  using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
  
  namespace ContosoUniversity.Models
  {
      public class Department
      {
          public int DepartmentID { get; set; }
  
          [StringLength(50, MinimumLength = 3)]
          public string Name { get; set; }
  
          [DataType(DataType.Currency)]
          [Column(TypeName = "money")]
          public decimal Budget { get; set; }
  
          [DataType(DataType.Date)]
          [DisplayFormat(DataFormatString = "{0:yyyy-MM-dd}",
                         ApplyFormatInEditMode = true)]
          [Display(Name = "Start Date")]
          public DateTime StartDate { get; set; }
  
          public int? InstructorID { get; set; }
  
          public Guid ConcurrencyToken { get; set; } = Guid.NewGuid();
  
          public Instructor Administrator { get; set; }
          public ICollection<Course> Courses { get; set; }
      }
  }
  

• Update the Data/SchoolContext.cs file by calling IsConcurrencyToken on the Department.ConcurrencyToken property:

  public class SchoolContext : DbContext
  {
      public SchoolContext(DbContextOptions<SchoolContext> options) : base(options)
      {
      }
  
      public DbSet<Course> Courses { get; set; }
      public DbSet<Enrollment> Enrollments { get; set; }
      public DbSet<Student> Students { get; set; }
      public DbSet<Department> Departments { get; set; }
      public DbSet<Instructor> Instructors { get; set; }
      public DbSet<OfficeAssignment> OfficeAssignments { get; set; }
      
      protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder)
      {
          modelBuilder.Entity<Course>().ToTable(nameof(Course))
              .HasMany(c => c.Instructors)
              .WithMany(i => i.Courses);
          modelBuilder.Entity<Student>().ToTable(nameof(Student));
          modelBuilder.Entity<Instructor>().ToTable(nameof(Instructor));
          modelBuilder.Entity<Department>()
              .Property(d => d.ConcurrencyToken)
              .IsConcurrencyToken();
      }
  }
  

  IsConcurrencyToken configures the property as a concurrency token. On updates, the concurrency token value in the database is compared to the original value to ensure it has not changed since the instance was retrieved from the database. If it has changed, a DbUpdateConcurrencyException is thrown and changes are not applied.

• In the code that updates the entity, update the value of the concurrency token. In this sample, the method that updates the entity uses the following code. This step will be done later in the tutorial.

  departmentToUpdate.ConcurrencyToken = Guid.NewGuid();
  

An alternative to updating the concurrency token in the update method is to set up a trigger so it's automatically updated by the database. For more information, see SQLite and EF Core Concurrency Tokens.

Add a migration

Adding the ConcurrencyToken property changes the data model, which requires a migration.

Build the project.

Visual Studio

Run the following commands in the PMC:

Add-Migration RowVersion
Update-Database

The preceding commands:

• Creates the Migrations/{time stamp}_RowVersion.cs migration file.
• Updates the Migrations/SchoolContextModelSnapshot.cs file. The update adds the following code to the BuildModel method:

 b.Property<byte[]>("ConcurrencyToken")
     .IsConcurrencyToken()
     .ValueGeneratedOnAddOrUpdate()
     .HasColumnType("rowversion");

Visual Studio Code

Run the following commands in a terminal:

dotnet ef migrations add RowVersion
dotnet ef database update

The preceding commands:

• Creates the Migrations/{time stamp}_RowVersion.cs migration file.
• Updates the Migrations/SchoolContextModelSnapshot.cs file. The update adds the following highlighted code to the BuildModel method:

b.Property<Guid>("ConcurrencyToken")
    .IsConcurrencyToken()
    .HasColumnType("TEXT");

Scaffold Department pages

Visual Studio

Follow the instructions in Scaffold Student pages with the following exceptions:

• Create a Pages/Departments folder.
• Use Department for the model class.
• Use the existing context class instead of creating a new one.

Visual Studio Code

• Create a Pages/Departments folder.

• Run the following command to scaffold the Department pages.

  On Windows:

  dotnet aspnet-codegenerator razorpage -m Department -dc SchoolContext -udl -outDir Pages\Departments --referenceScriptLibraries
  

  On Linux or macOS:

  dotnet aspnet-codegenerator razorpage -m Department -dc SchoolContext -udl -outDir Pages/Departments --referenceScriptLibraries
  

Add a utility class

In the project folder, create the Utility class with the following code:

Visual Studio

namespace ContosoUniversity
{
    public static class Utility
    {
        public static string GetLastChars(byte[] token)
        {
            return token[7].ToString();
        }
    }
}

Visual Studio Code

using System;

namespace ContosoUniversity
{
    public static class Utility
    {
        public static string GetLastChars(Guid token)
        {
            return token.ToString().Substring(
                                    token.ToString().Length - 3);
        }
    }
}

The Utility class provides the GetLastChars method used to display the last few characters of the concurrency token. The following code shows the code that works with both SQLite ad SQL Server:

#if SQLiteVersion
using System;

namespace ContosoUniversity
{
    public static class Utility
    {
        public static string GetLastChars(Guid token)
        {
            return token.ToString().Substring(
                                    token.ToString().Length - 3);
        }
    }
}
#else
namespace ContosoUniversity
{
    public static class Utility
    {
        public static string GetLastChars(byte[] token)
        {
            return token[7].ToString();
        }
    }
}
#endif

The #if SQLiteVersion preprocessor directive isolates the differences in the SQLite and SQL Server versions and helps:

• The author maintain one code base for both versions.
• SQLite developers deploy the app to Azure and use SQL Azure.

Build the project.

Update the Index page

The scaffolding tool created a ConcurrencyToken column for the Index page, but that field wouldn't be displayed in a production app. In this tutorial, the last portion of the ConcurrencyToken is displayed to help show how concurrency handling works. The last portion isn't guaranteed to be unique by itself.

Update Pages\Departments\Index.cshtml page:

• Replace Index with Departments.
• Change the code containing ConcurrencyToken to show just the last few characters.
• Replace FirstMidName with FullName.

The following code shows the updated page:

@page
@model ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments.IndexModel

@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Departments";
}

<h2>Departments</h2>

<p>
    <a asp-page="Create">Create New</a>
</p>
<table class="table">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>
                @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department[0].Name)
            </th>
            <th>
                @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department[0].Budget)
            </th>
            <th>
                @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department[0].StartDate)
            </th>
            <th>
                @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department[0].Administrator)
            </th>
            <th>
                Token
            </th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        @foreach (var item in Model.Department)
        {
            <tr>
                <td>
                    @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Name)
                </td>
                <td>
                    @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Budget)
                </td>
                <td>
                    @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.StartDate)
                </td>
                <td>
                    @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Administrator.FullName)
                </td>
                <td>
                    @Utility.GetLastChars(item.ConcurrencyToken)
                </td>
                <td>
                    <a asp-page="./Edit" asp-route-id="@item.DepartmentID">Edit</a> |
                    <a asp-page="./Details" asp-route-id="@item.DepartmentID">Details</a> |
                    <a asp-page="./Delete" asp-route-id="@item.DepartmentID">Delete</a>
                </td>
            </tr>
        }
    </tbody>
</table>

Update the Edit page model

Update Pages/Departments/Edit.cshtml.cs with the following code:

Visual Studio

using ContosoUniversity.Data;
using ContosoUniversity.Models;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.RazorPages;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Rendering;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments
{
    public class EditModel : PageModel
    {
        private readonly ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext _context;

        public EditModel(ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext context)
        {
            _context = context;
        }

        [BindProperty]
        public Department Department { get; set; }
        // Replace ViewData["InstructorID"] 
        public SelectList InstructorNameSL { get; set; }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnGetAsync(int id)
        {
            Department = await _context.Departments
                .Include(d => d.Administrator)  // eager loading
                .AsNoTracking()                 // tracking not required
                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

            if (Department == null)
            {
                return NotFound();
            }

            // Use strongly typed data rather than ViewData.
            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
                "ID", "FirstMidName");

            return Page();
        }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
        {
            if (!ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                return Page();
            }

            // Fetch current department from DB.
            // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
            var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
                .Include(i => i.Administrator)
                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

            if (departmentToUpdate == null)
            {
                return HandleDeletedDepartment();
            }

            // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
            _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(
                 d => d.ConcurrencyToken).OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

            if (await TryUpdateModelAsync<Department>(
                departmentToUpdate,
                "Department",
                s => s.Name, s => s.StartDate, s => s.Budget, s => s.InstructorID))
            {
                try
                {
                    await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
                    return RedirectToPage("./Index");
                }
                catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException ex)
                {
                    var exceptionEntry = ex.Entries.Single();
                    var clientValues = (Department)exceptionEntry.Entity;
                    var databaseEntry = exceptionEntry.GetDatabaseValues();
                    if (databaseEntry == null)
                    {
                        ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty, "Unable to save. " +
                            "The department was deleted by another user.");
                        return Page();
                    }

                    var dbValues = (Department)databaseEntry.ToObject();
                    await SetDbErrorMessage(dbValues, clientValues, _context);

                    // Save the current ConcurrencyToken so next postback
                    // matches unless an new concurrency issue happens.
                    Department.ConcurrencyToken = (byte[])dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;
                    // Clear the model error for the next postback.
                    ModelState.Remove($"{nameof(Department)}.{nameof(Department.ConcurrencyToken)}");
                }
            }

            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
                "ID", "FullName", departmentToUpdate.InstructorID);

            return Page();
        }

        private IActionResult HandleDeletedDepartment()
        {
            // ModelState contains the posted data because of the deletion error
            // and overides the Department instance values when displaying Page().
            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty,
                "Unable to save. The department was deleted by another user.");
            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors, "ID", "FullName", Department.InstructorID);
            return Page();
        }

        private async Task SetDbErrorMessage(Department dbValues,
                Department clientValues, SchoolContext context)
        {

            if (dbValues.Name != clientValues.Name)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Name",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.Name}");
            }
            if (dbValues.Budget != clientValues.Budget)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Budget",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.Budget:c}");
            }
            if (dbValues.StartDate != clientValues.StartDate)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.StartDate",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.StartDate:d}");
            }
            if (dbValues.InstructorID != clientValues.InstructorID)
            {
                Instructor dbInstructor = await _context.Instructors
                   .FindAsync(dbValues.InstructorID);
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.InstructorID",
                    $"Current value: {dbInstructor?.FullName}");
            }

            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty,
                "The record you attempted to edit "
              + "was modified by another user after you. The "
              + "edit operation was canceled and the current values in the database "
              + "have been displayed. If you still want to edit this record, click "
              + "the Save button again.");
        }
    }
}

Visual Studio Code

using ContosoUniversity.Data;
using ContosoUniversity.Models;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.RazorPages;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Rendering;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
using System;                // For GUID in SQLite version
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments
{
    public class EditModel : PageModel
    {
        private readonly ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext _context;

        public EditModel(ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext context)
        {
            _context = context;
        }

        [BindProperty]
        public Department Department { get; set; }
        // Replace ViewData["InstructorID"] 
        public SelectList InstructorNameSL { get; set; }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnGetAsync(int id)
        {
            Department = await _context.Departments
                .Include(d => d.Administrator)  // eager loading
                .AsNoTracking()                 // tracking not required
                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

            if (Department == null)
            {
                return NotFound();
            }

            // Use strongly typed data rather than ViewData.
            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
                "ID", "FirstMidName");

            return Page();
        }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
        {
            if (!ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                return Page();
            }

            // Fetch current department from DB.
            // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
            var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
                .Include(i => i.Administrator)
                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

            if (departmentToUpdate == null)
            {
                return HandleDeletedDepartment();
            }

            departmentToUpdate.ConcurrencyToken = Guid.NewGuid();

            // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
            _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(d => d.ConcurrencyToken)
                                   .OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

            if (await TryUpdateModelAsync<Department>(
                departmentToUpdate,
                "Department",
                s => s.Name, s => s.StartDate, s => s.Budget, s => s.InstructorID))
            {
                try
                {
                    await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
                    return RedirectToPage("./Index");
                }
                catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException ex)
                {
                    var exceptionEntry = ex.Entries.Single();
                    var clientValues = (Department)exceptionEntry.Entity;
                    var databaseEntry = exceptionEntry.GetDatabaseValues();
                    if (databaseEntry == null)
                    {
                        ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty, "Unable to save. " +
                            "The department was deleted by another user.");
                        return Page();
                    }

                    var dbValues = (Department)databaseEntry.ToObject();
                    await SetDbErrorMessage(dbValues, clientValues, _context);

                    // Save the current ConcurrencyToken so next postback
                    // matches unless an new concurrency issue happens.
                    Department.ConcurrencyToken = dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;
                    // Clear the model error for the next postback.
                    ModelState.Remove($"{nameof(Department)}.{nameof(Department.ConcurrencyToken)}");
                }
            }

            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
                "ID", "FullName", departmentToUpdate.InstructorID);

            return Page();
        }

        private IActionResult HandleDeletedDepartment()
        {
            // ModelState contains the posted data because of the deletion error
            // and overides the Department instance values when displaying Page().
            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty,
                "Unable to save. The department was deleted by another user.");
            InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors, "ID", "FullName", Department.InstructorID);
            return Page();
        }

        private async Task SetDbErrorMessage(Department dbValues,
                Department clientValues, SchoolContext context)
        {

            if (dbValues.Name != clientValues.Name)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Name",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.Name}");
            }
            if (dbValues.Budget != clientValues.Budget)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Budget",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.Budget:c}");
            }
            if (dbValues.StartDate != clientValues.StartDate)
            {
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.StartDate",
                    $"Current value: {dbValues.StartDate:d}");
            }
            if (dbValues.InstructorID != clientValues.InstructorID)
            {
                Instructor dbInstructor = await _context.Instructors
                   .FindAsync(dbValues.InstructorID);
                ModelState.AddModelError("Department.InstructorID",
                    $"Current value: {dbInstructor?.FullName}");
            }

            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty,
                "The record you attempted to edit "
              + "was modified by another user after you. The "
              + "edit operation was canceled and the current values in the database "
              + "have been displayed. If you still want to edit this record, click "
              + "the Save button again.");
        }
    }
}

The concurrency updates

OriginalValue is updated with the ConcurrencyToken value from the entity when it was fetched in the OnGetAsync method. EF Core generates a SQL UPDATE command with a WHERE clause containing the original ConcurrencyToken value. If no rows are affected by the UPDATE command, a DbUpdateConcurrencyException exception is thrown. No rows are affected by the UPDATE command when no rows have the original ConcurrencyToken value.

Visual Studio

public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
{
    if (!ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        return Page();
    }

    // Fetch current department from DB.
    // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
    var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
        .Include(i => i.Administrator)
        .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

    if (departmentToUpdate == null)
    {
        return HandleDeletedDepartment();
    }

    // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
    _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(
         d => d.ConcurrencyToken).OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

Visual Studio Code

public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
{
    if (!ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        return Page();
    }

    // Fetch current department from DB.
    // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
    var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
        .Include(i => i.Administrator)
        .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

    if (departmentToUpdate == null)
    {
        return HandleDeletedDepartment();
    }

    departmentToUpdate.ConcurrencyToken = Guid.NewGuid();

    // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
    _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(d => d.ConcurrencyToken)
                           .OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

In the preceding highlighted code:

• The value in Department.ConcurrencyToken is the value when the entity was fetched in the Get request for the Edit page. The value is provided to the OnPost method by a hidden field in the Razor page that displays the entity to be edited. The hidden field value is copied to Department.ConcurrencyToken by the model binder.
• OriginalValue is what EF Core uses in the WHERE clause. Before the highlighted line of code executes:
  • OriginalValue has the value that was in the database when FirstOrDefaultAsync was called in this method.
  • This value might be different from what was displayed on the Edit page.
• The highlighted code makes sure that EF Core uses the original ConcurrencyToken value from the displayed Department entity in the SQL UPDATE statement's WHERE clause.

The following code shows the Department model. Department is initialized in the:

• OnGetAsync method by the EF query.
• OnPostAsync method by the hidden field in the Razor page using model binding:

Visual Studio

public class EditModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext _context;

    public EditModel(ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext context)
    {
        _context = context;
    }

    [BindProperty]
    public Department Department { get; set; }
    // Replace ViewData["InstructorID"] 
    public SelectList InstructorNameSL { get; set; }

    public async Task<IActionResult> OnGetAsync(int id)
    {
        Department = await _context.Departments
            .Include(d => d.Administrator)  // eager loading
            .AsNoTracking()                 // tracking not required
            .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

        if (Department == null)
        {
            return NotFound();
        }

        // Use strongly typed data rather than ViewData.
        InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
            "ID", "FirstMidName");

        return Page();
    }

    public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
    {
        if (!ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            return Page();
        }

        // Fetch current department from DB.
        // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
        var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
            .Include(i => i.Administrator)
            .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

        if (departmentToUpdate == null)
        {
            return HandleDeletedDepartment();
        }

        // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
        _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(
             d => d.ConcurrencyToken).OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

Visual Studio Code

public class EditModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext _context;

    public EditModel(ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext context)
    {
        _context = context;
    }

    [BindProperty]
    public Department Department { get; set; }
    // Replace ViewData["InstructorID"] 
    public SelectList InstructorNameSL { get; set; }

    public async Task<IActionResult> OnGetAsync(int id)
    {
        Department = await _context.Departments
            .Include(d => d.Administrator)  // eager loading
            .AsNoTracking()                 // tracking not required
            .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

        if (Department == null)
        {
            return NotFound();
        }

        // Use strongly typed data rather than ViewData.
        InstructorNameSL = new SelectList(_context.Instructors,
            "ID", "FirstMidName");

        return Page();
    }

    public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
    {
        if (!ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            return Page();
        }

        // Fetch current department from DB.
        // ConcurrencyToken may have changed.
        var departmentToUpdate = await _context.Departments
            .Include(i => i.Administrator)
            .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

        if (departmentToUpdate == null)
        {
            return HandleDeletedDepartment();
        }

        departmentToUpdate.ConcurrencyToken = Guid.NewGuid();

        // Set ConcurrencyToken to value read in OnGetAsync
        _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate).Property(d => d.ConcurrencyToken)
                               .OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

The preceding code shows the ConcurrencyToken value of the Department entity from the HTTP POST request is set to the ConcurrencyToken value from the HTTP GET request.

When a concurrency error happens, the following highlighted code gets the client values (the values posted to this method) and the database values.

if (await TryUpdateModelAsync<Department>(
    departmentToUpdate,
    "Department",
    s => s.Name, s => s.StartDate, s => s.Budget, s => s.InstructorID))
{
    try
    {
        await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
        return RedirectToPage("./Index");
    }
    catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException ex)
    {
        var exceptionEntry = ex.Entries.Single();
        var clientValues = (Department)exceptionEntry.Entity;
        var databaseEntry = exceptionEntry.GetDatabaseValues();
        if (databaseEntry == null)
        {
            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty, "Unable to save. " +
                "The department was deleted by another user.");
            return Page();
        }

        var dbValues = (Department)databaseEntry.ToObject();
        await SetDbErrorMessage(dbValues, clientValues, _context);

        // Save the current ConcurrencyToken so next postback
        // matches unless an new concurrency issue happens.
        Department.ConcurrencyToken = dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;
        // Clear the model error for the next postback.
        ModelState.Remove($"{nameof(Department)}.{nameof(Department.ConcurrencyToken)}");
    }

The following code adds a custom error message for each column that has database values different from what was posted to OnPostAsync:

private async Task SetDbErrorMessage(Department dbValues,
        Department clientValues, SchoolContext context)
{

    if (dbValues.Name != clientValues.Name)
    {
        ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Name",
            $"Current value: {dbValues.Name}");
    }
    if (dbValues.Budget != clientValues.Budget)
    {
        ModelState.AddModelError("Department.Budget",
            $"Current value: {dbValues.Budget:c}");
    }
    if (dbValues.StartDate != clientValues.StartDate)
    {
        ModelState.AddModelError("Department.StartDate",
            $"Current value: {dbValues.StartDate:d}");
    }
    if (dbValues.InstructorID != clientValues.InstructorID)
    {
        Instructor dbInstructor = await _context.Instructors
           .FindAsync(dbValues.InstructorID);
        ModelState.AddModelError("Department.InstructorID",
            $"Current value: {dbInstructor?.FullName}");
    }

    ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty,
        "The record you attempted to edit "
      + "was modified by another user after you. The "
      + "edit operation was canceled and the current values in the database "
      + "have been displayed. If you still want to edit this record, click "
      + "the Save button again.");
}

The following highlighted code sets the ConcurrencyToken value to the new value retrieved from the database. The next time the user clicks Save, only concurrency errors that happen since the last display of the Edit page will be caught.

if (await TryUpdateModelAsync<Department>(
    departmentToUpdate,
    "Department",
    s => s.Name, s => s.StartDate, s => s.Budget, s => s.InstructorID))
{
    try
    {
        await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
        return RedirectToPage("./Index");
    }
    catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException ex)
    {
        var exceptionEntry = ex.Entries.Single();
        var clientValues = (Department)exceptionEntry.Entity;
        var databaseEntry = exceptionEntry.GetDatabaseValues();
        if (databaseEntry == null)
        {
            ModelState.AddModelError(string.Empty, "Unable to save. " +
                "The department was deleted by another user.");
            return Page();
        }

        var dbValues = (Department)databaseEntry.ToObject();
        await SetDbErrorMessage(dbValues, clientValues, _context);

        // Save the current ConcurrencyToken so next postback
        // matches unless an new concurrency issue happens.
        Department.ConcurrencyToken = dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;
        // Clear the model error for the next postback.
        ModelState.Remove($"{nameof(Department)}.{nameof(Department.ConcurrencyToken)}");
    }

The ModelState.Remove statement is required because ModelState has the previous ConcurrencyToken value. In the Razor Page, the ModelState value for a field takes precedence over the model property values when both are present.

SQL Server vs SQLite code differences

The following shows the differences between the SQL Server and SQLite versions:

+ using System;    // For GUID on SQLite

+ departmentToUpdate.ConcurrencyToken = Guid.NewGuid();

 _context.Entry(departmentToUpdate)
    .Property(d => d.ConcurrencyToken).OriginalValue = Department.ConcurrencyToken;

- Department.ConcurrencyToken = (byte[])dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;
+ Department.ConcurrencyToken = dbValues.ConcurrencyToken;

Update the Edit Razor page

Update Pages/Departments/Edit.cshtml with the following code:

@page "{id:int}"
@model ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments.EditModel
@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Edit";
}
<h2>Edit</h2>
<h4>Department</h4>
<hr />
<div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-4">
        <form method="post">
            <div asp-validation-summary="ModelOnly" class="text-danger"></div>
            <input type="hidden" asp-for="Department.DepartmentID" />
            <input type="hidden" asp-for="Department.ConcurrencyToken" />
            <div class="form-group">
                <label>Version</label>
                @Utility.GetLastChars(Model.Department.ConcurrencyToken)
            </div>
            <div class="form-group">
                <label asp-for="Department.Name" class="control-label"></label>
                <input asp-for="Department.Name" class="form-control" />
                <span asp-validation-for="Department.Name" class="text-danger"></span>
            </div>
            <div class="form-group">
                <label asp-for="Department.Budget" class="control-label"></label>
                <input asp-for="Department.Budget" class="form-control" />
                <span asp-validation-for="Department.Budget" class="text-danger"></span>
            </div>
            <div class="form-group">
                <label asp-for="Department.StartDate" class="control-label"></label>
                <input asp-for="Department.StartDate" class="form-control" />
                <span asp-validation-for="Department.StartDate" class="text-danger">
                </span>
            </div>
            <div class="form-group">
                <label class="control-label">Instructor</label>
                <select asp-for="Department.InstructorID" class="form-control"
                        asp-items="@Model.InstructorNameSL"></select>
                <span asp-validation-for="Department.InstructorID" class="text-danger">
                </span>
            </div>
            <div class="form-group">
                <input type="submit" value="Save" class="btn btn-primary" />
            </div>
        </form>
    </div>
</div>
<div>
    <a asp-page="./Index">Back to List</a>
</div>
@section Scripts {
    @{await Html.RenderPartialAsync("_ValidationScriptsPartial");}
}

The preceding code:

• Updates the page directive from @page to @page "{id:int}".
• Adds a hidden row version. ConcurrencyToken must be added so postback binds the value.
• Displays the last byte of ConcurrencyToken for debugging purposes.
• Replaces ViewData with the strongly-typed InstructorNameSL.

Test concurrency conflicts with the Edit page

Open two browsers instances of Edit on the English department:

• Run the app and select Departments.
• Right-click the Edit hyperlink for the English department and select Open in new tab.
• In the first tab, click the Edit hyperlink for the English department.

The two browser tabs display the same information.

Change the name in the first browser tab and click Save.

The browser shows the Index page with the changed value and updated ConcurrencyTokenindicator. Note the updated ConcurrencyTokenindicator, it's displayed on the second postback in the other tab.

Change a different field in the second browser tab.

Click Save. You see error messages for all fields that don't match the database values:

This browser window didn't intend to change the Name field. Copy and paste the current value (Languages) into the Name field. Tab out. Client-side validation removes the error message.

Click Save again. The value you entered in the second browser tab is saved. You see the saved values in the Index page.

Update the Delete page model

Update Pages/Departments/Delete.cshtml.cs with the following code:

using ContosoUniversity.Models;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.RazorPages;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments
{
    public class DeleteModel : PageModel
    {
        private readonly ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext _context;

        public DeleteModel(ContosoUniversity.Data.SchoolContext context)
        {
            _context = context;
        }

        [BindProperty]
        public Department Department { get; set; }
        public string ConcurrencyErrorMessage { get; set; }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnGetAsync(int id, bool? concurrencyError)
        {
            Department = await _context.Departments
                .Include(d => d.Administrator)
                .AsNoTracking()
                .FirstOrDefaultAsync(m => m.DepartmentID == id);

            if (Department == null)
            {
                 return NotFound();
            }

            if (concurrencyError.GetValueOrDefault())
            {
                ConcurrencyErrorMessage = "The record you attempted to delete "
                  + "was modified by another user after you selected delete. "
                  + "The delete operation was canceled and the current values in the "
                  + "database have been displayed. If you still want to delete this "
                  + "record, click the Delete button again.";
            }
            return Page();
        }

        public async Task<IActionResult> OnPostAsync(int id)
        {
            try
            {
                if (await _context.Departments.AnyAsync(
                    m => m.DepartmentID == id))
                {
                    // Department.ConcurrencyToken value is from when the entity
                    // was fetched. If it doesn't match the DB, a
                    // DbUpdateConcurrencyException exception is thrown.
                    _context.Departments.Remove(Department);
                    await _context.SaveChangesAsync();
                }
                return RedirectToPage("./Index");
            }
            catch (DbUpdateConcurrencyException)
            {
                return RedirectToPage("./Delete",
                    new { concurrencyError = true, id = id });
            }
        }
    }
}

The Delete page detects concurrency conflicts when the entity has changed after it was fetched. Department.ConcurrencyToken is the row version when the entity was fetched. When EF Core creates the SQL DELETE command, it includes a WHERE clause with ConcurrencyToken. If the SQL DELETE command results in zero rows affected:

• The ConcurrencyToken in the SQL DELETE command doesn't match ConcurrencyToken in the database.
• A DbUpdateConcurrencyException exception is thrown.
• OnGetAsync is called with the concurrencyError.

Update the Delete Razor page

Update Pages/Departments/Delete.cshtml with the following code:

@page "{id:int}"
@model ContosoUniversity.Pages.Departments.DeleteModel

@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Delete";
}

<h1>Delete</h1>

<p class="text-danger">@Model.ConcurrencyErrorMessage</p>

<h3>Are you sure you want to delete this?</h3>
<div>
    <h4>Department</h4>
    <hr />
    <dl class="row">
        <dt class="col-sm-2">
            @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department.Name)
        </dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.DisplayFor(model => model.Department.Name)
        </dd>
        <dt class="col-sm-2">
            @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department.Budget)
        </dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.DisplayFor(model => model.Department.Budget)
        </dd>
        <dt class="col-sm-2">
            @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department.StartDate)
        </dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.DisplayFor(model => model.Department.StartDate)
        </dd>
        <dt class="col-sm-2">
            @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department.ConcurrencyToken)
        </dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-10">
            @Utility.GetLastChars(Model.Department.ConcurrencyToken)
        </dd>
        <dt class="col-sm-2">
            @Html.DisplayNameFor(model => model.Department.Administrator)
        </dt>
        <dd class="col-sm-10">
            @Html.DisplayFor(model => model.Department.Administrator.FullName)
        </dd>
    </dl>

    <form method="post">
        <input type="hidden" asp-for="Department.DepartmentID" />
        <input type="hidden" asp-for="Department.ConcurrencyToken" />
        <input type="submit" value="Delete" class="btn btn-danger" /> |
        <a asp-page="./Index">Back to List</a>
    </form>
</div>

The preceding code makes the following changes:

• Updates the page directive from @page to @page "{id:int}".
• Adds an error message.
• Replaces FirstMidName with FullName in the Administrator field.
• Changes ConcurrencyToken to display the last byte.
• Adds a hidden row version. ConcurrencyToken must be added so postback binds the value.

Test concurrency conflicts

Create a test department.

Open two browsers instances of Delete on the test department:

• Run the app and select Departments.
• Right-click the Delete hyperlink for the test department and select Open in new tab.
• Click the Edit hyperlink for the test department.

The two browser tabs display the same information.

Change the budget in the first browser tab and click Save.

The browser shows the Index page with the changed value and updated ConcurrencyTokenindicator. Note the updated ConcurrencyTokenindicator, it's displayed on the second postback in the other tab.

Delete the test department from the second tab. A concurrency error is display with the current values from the database. Clicking Delete deletes the entity, unless ConcurrencyToken has been updated.

Additional resources

• Concurrency Tokens in EF Core
• Handle concurrency in EF Core
• Debugging ASP.NET Core 2.x source

Next steps

This is the last tutorial in the series. Additional topics are covered in the MVC version of this tutorial series.

Previous tutorial