How to Resolve Text Encoding Issues when Connecting to MySQL with Entity Framework in C#?

Resolving Text Encoding Issues in MySQL and C# with Entity Framework

When connecting to a MySQL database with an outdated encoding like UTF-8 using the ADO.NET Entity Framework, distortions in retrieved strings may occur. This is evident when characters with diacritical marks appear as peculiar symbols, such as ë being represented as ë.

Identifying the Problem

The issue stems from a mismatch between the database encoding and the encoding expected by the application. Initially, attempts to convert the data from UTF8 to UTF16 to resolve the problem proved unsuccessful. This indicates that the database or the connection between the database and the application requires further adjustment to ensure proper encoding of data.

Solution

To rectify this issue effectively, two crucial steps must be taken:

1. Verify Database Collation: Ensure that the database or table collation is set to a UTF-8 collation, such as utf8_general_ci.

2. Modify Connection String: Include the parameter Charset=utf8; in the connection string to signify that the connection should use UTF-8 encoding. For instance:

   "Server=localhost;Database=test;Uid=test;Pwd=test;Charset=utf8;"

Note: Pay attention to casing as it may impact the functionality of the Charset parameter. Some users have reported success with CharSet=UTF8; while Charset=utf8; failed to address the issue.

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