The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found

Recently, I was working with one Azure Function Project where I had to implement the Entity Frame Work to interact with the SQL Database using Visual Studio 2019. I have created one Data context class which was supposed to inherit from the DbContext. But while implementing that I got the error The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found.

One point to note down here is I had already installed the EntityFramework NuGet Package but still I got the above error.

Below was the my DataContext class code

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

namespace MyAzurefunctionEF
{
    class UserDataContext: DbContext
    {
      //Implementation logic
    }
}

I got the Error, You can see it below

The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found — **applicationdbcontext could not be found**

The exact error message was as below

CS0246 The type or namespace name ‘DbContext’ could not be found(are you missing directive or an assembly reference?)

The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found [Solved]

To fix the error The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found, you need to follow the below steps

Right click on your Azure Function Project and click on the Manage NuGet Packages.

Search for the EntityFramework and select that and click on the Install button as highlighted below

applicationdbcontext could not be found net core — **dbcontext could not be found**

Then click on the I Accept button to accept the license Agreement.

applicationdbcontext not found — the type or namespace dbcontext could not be found

It will now install the EntityFramework NuGet package for your Azure Function Project.

Now same way, search for the Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore NuGet package and click on the Install button.

Now same way click on the I Accept button to accept the License Agreement as shown below

the type or namespace name 'dbcontext' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) — dbcontext not found

Now the Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore NuGet package will be installed successfully with out any issue

Then The next is, you need to use the below Using Statement in side your class as highlighted below

using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;

using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

After following the above mentioned steps, you can able to see, Now there is no error

So this is how you can able to fix the error The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found.

Dbcontext could not be found

If you working with the MVC application, there might be a chance you will get the error The type or namespace name ‘DbContext’ could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?).

The type or namespace name ‘DbContext’ could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Let’s find out a way to fix this issue

Dbcontext could not be found [Solved]

To fix the issue The type or namespace name ‘DbContext’ could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?). Follow the below steps

If you have the Nugget installed

Right-click on your project.
Click on Manage Nugget packages.
Search for the package “EntityFramework”.
Click on the search result “EntityFramework” package and then click on the Install button to install the Package.

With out Nugget

If you don’t have the Nugget package installed on your machine, then follow the below steps

Right-click on the project and click on the Add reference.
Search for the System.Data.Entity.dll or EntityFramework.dll and add that to your project.

Using Package Manager console

You can also able to install the needed package using the Package Manager Console using Visual Studio.

Select your Project –> Navigate to the Tools menu –> Select the Package Manager Console from the sub-menu.
Type the command install-package EntityFramework and then hit the enter button on the Package Manager Console window.
It will download and install the necessary Entity Framework Package.
Right-click on the project and click on the Add reference.
Search for the System.Data.Entity or EntityFramework.dll and add that to your project and then click on the Ok button.
Add the using statement using System.Data.Entity or using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;

Note: Make sure that you have an internet connection as required to download the Entity Framework Package.

The type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced

Sometimes while working on your project, you might get the error like “The type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced” error.

The complete error message will be like below

The type ‘System.Data.Entity.DbContext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced. You must add a reference to assembly ‘EntityFramework, Version=5.0.0.0

Now, if you by chance got this error, you need fix it by using the below information.

The type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced [Solved]

Let’s discuss here multiple approaches to fix the issue the type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced.

Approach-1: Add the reference of Entity Framework DLL

Navigate to the below path in your machine

c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft ASP.NET\ASP.NETMVC 4\Packages\EntityFramework 5.0.0-rc\lib\net45

Now try adding the Entity framework DLL

Approach-2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Entity Framework Instance

Try uninstalling the Entity Framework Instance from your machine and then Reinstall the Entity Framework Instance and try doing the same stuff, It should fix your issue.

This is how you can able to fix the error The type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced.

The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework”

While working with the Entity Framework in your project, you might get the error The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework”. Now let’s discuss how to fix the error The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework”.

The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework” [Solved]

Follow the below steps to fix the issue

Approach-1:

Right-click on the Project —> Click on the Manage Nugget Packages.
Click on the Browse tab and search for the Entity Framework.
Click on the Search result Entity framework with the latest version and then click on the Install button.

The type or namespace name could not be found entity framework

Approach-2:

Right-click on the project –> Click on Add Reference option.
Choose the Browse tab.
Navigate to your Project folder –> click on the packages –> Entity Framework —> then select the lib.
Now you need to choose the EntityFramework.dll
Finally, click on the Ok button.

This is how you can able to fix the error The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework”.

The type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘Microsoft’

Sometimes while working with the project with Entity framework, you might get the error “the type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘microsoft’“.

Now, let’s see how to fix this error in case you got the error.

The type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘Microsoft’ [Solved]

Follow the below steps to fix the error The type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘Microsoft’.

Right-click on the project –> Click on the Manage NuGet packages.
Click on the Browse tab and search for “Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools“. Click on the search result Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools NuGet package. Click on the Install button to install the NuGet package.

3. Same way search for another NuGet package “Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer” and then click on the search result Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer. Click on the Install button to install the NuGet package.

This is how you can able to fix the error The type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘Microsoft’.

Cannot find dbcontext

Remember that if you are getting the error cannot find dbcontext, then you will have to install the Entity Framework NuGet Package. You need to follow the below information to fix the error cannot find dbcontext.

Cannot find dbcontext [Solved]

You need to install the Entity Framework to fix the error cannot find dbcontext.

You can use the NuGet manager Console to install the EntityFramework NuGet package. Use the below cmdlet

Install-Package EntityFramework

You can also install the EntityFramework using the below steps

Right-click on the Project —> Click on the Manage Nugget Packages.
Click on the Browse tab and search for the Entity Framework.
Click on the Search result Entity framework with the latest version and then click on the Install button.

You can use the above steps to fix the issue Cannot find dbcontext.

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Wrapping Up

Well, in this article, we discussed How to fix the error The Type Or Namespace DbContext Could Not Be Found, The type or namespace name ‘DbContext’ could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?), Dbcontext could not be found, The type ‘dbcontext’ is defined in an assembly that is not referenced, The type or namespace name could not be found “entity framework” and Along with this, we have also discussed how to fix the error The type or namespace name ‘entityframeworkcore’ does not exist in the namespace ‘Microsoft’, Cannot find dbcontext which I got while working with Azure Function with Entity Framework. Hope It will help you to fix your issue !!!