Create a DTO and Introduce Entities

DTOs and entities

This lesson will explore the fundamental concepts of DTOs and entities. A DTO enables us to format and structure data for various use cases, while entities represent the data models that interact with the database. Understanding these concepts is essential for building a data-driven application.

DTO

A DTO is a data object that transfers data between different layers. DTOs are objects that shape and format data for efficient and structured exchange between different layers or components within an application. While they’re often employed in client-server communication, their primary purpose is to facilitate data transfer and maintain a standardized format between various application layers, such as between controllers and services. DTOs help ensure that data is appropriately structured and presented, enhancing the application’s maintainability.

For example, the UserDto class represents the data structure of a user.