When would you use raw SQL in EF Core, and how do you keep it safe?

EF Core raw SQL and SQL injection risk

Explains raw SQL in EF Core with practical .NET data-access examples and production trade-offs.

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I use raw SQL when LINQ cannot express a query well or when a database-specific feature is needed. I keep it parameterized, never concatenate user input into SQL strings, and keep the query readable and tested. EF Core has APIs that support parameters. The goal is to get the needed database behavior without opening SQL injection risk.

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Understanding of raw SQL in EF Core, EF Core/SQL behavior, API boundaries, production risks, and practical debugging or design judgment.

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Explain raw SQL in EF Core with practical .NET data-access examples and production trade-offs. It matters in real backend work because the server has to enforce trust boundaries even when the UI, client, or caller behaves unexpectedly. The practical angle is raw SQL in EF Core, EF Core/SQL behavior, API boundaries, production risks, and practical debugging or design judgment, tied to a concrete production decision.
I use raw SQL when LINQ cannot express a query well or when a database-specific feature is needed. I keep it parameterized, never concatenate user input into SQL strings, and keep the query readable and tested. EF Core has APIs that support parameters. The goal is to get the needed database behavior without opening SQL injection risk.
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A complex reporting query, window function, or database-specific optimization might be clearer as raw SQL. The trade-off is that raw SQL bypasses some compile-time safety and can become harder to refactor when the schema changes. I keep raw SQL close to the data-access layer, use parameters, test it against realistic data, and document why LINQ was not used.

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Treating raw SQL in EF Core as a syntax detail instead of a production behavior.
Not checking generated SQL, query plans, or actual data volume.
Testing only with tiny local data and assuming production will behave the same.
Fixing symptoms with caching, timeouts, or retries before understanding the data-access cause.

When would you use raw SQL in EF Core, and how do you keep it safe?

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