🧠 Why You Should Use C# Record Types Instead of Classes for DTOs

In modern C# development—especially with ASP.NET Core—record types offer a cleaner, more expressive alternative to traditional classes for modeling data-centric structures like DTOs, API models, and config snapshots.

🧪 Example Comparison

Class:'

public class Product {

public string Name { get; }

public decimal Price { get; }

public Product(string name, decimal price) {

Name = name;

Price = price;

}

public override string ToString() => $"Product: {Name}, Price: {Price}";

}

Record:

public record Product(string Name, decimal Price);

🔍 When Not to Use Records

• Avoid placing business logic inside records.

• For mutable entities in EF Core with identity tracking, stick with classes.

💡 Final Thought

Record types simplify your codebase, improve readability, and reduce bugs—especially in APIs and configuration models. Use them where data structure matters more than behavior.