.NET Core Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore ILikeExpression

Question

I am using EntityFramework Core with Npgsql provider, perform ILIKE query works fine:

var query = dbContext.countries
                      .Where(w => (w.name != null && 
                               EF.Functions.ILike(w.name, $"{search}%")
                       );

Query is translated into PostgreSQL's ILIKE, so far so good.

I am also building a dynamic LINQ based on annotation - [Searchable] or [Orderable] properties in models - and I am trying to find out how to perform ILIKE using Expressions and Lambda. Code:

 // works, except it produces just LIKE which is case sensitive. Not enough.
 expr = Expression.Call(property, nameof(string.Contains), new Type[] { }, Expression.Constant(search));

 // does not work, ends with exception, see below
 expr = new Npgsql.EntityFrameworkCore.PostgreSQL.Query.Expressions.Internal.ILikeExpression(property, Expression.Constant(search_query));

Any ideas? Thanks!

// Exception

Application started. Press Ctrl+C to shut down.
fail: Microsoft.AspNetCore.Server.Kestrel[13]
      Connection id "0HLGC19DMS3OI", Request id "0HLGC19DMS3OI:00000001": An unhandled exception was thrown by the application.
System.ArgumentException: must be reducible node
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.ReduceAndCheck()
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression.ReduceExtensions()
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExtensionExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLogicalBinaryExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLogicalBinaryExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLogicalBinaryExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLogicalBinaryExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLogicalBinaryExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpressionFreeTemps(Expression expression, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.Rewrite[T](Expression`1 lambda)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression`1.Accept(StackSpiller spiller)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLambdaExpression(Expression expr)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.Add(Expression expression)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.AddArguments(IArgumentProvider expressions)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteMethodCallExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.Add(Expression expression)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.AddArguments(IArgumentProvider expressions)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteMethodCallExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpressionFreeTemps(Expression expression, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.Rewrite[T](Expression`1 lambda)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression`1.Accept(StackSpiller spiller)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteLambdaExpression(Expression expr)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.Add(Expression expression)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.AddArguments(IArgumentProvider expressions)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteMethodCallExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.Add(Expression expression)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.ChildRewriter.AddArguments(IArgumentProvider expressions)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteMethodCallExpression(Expression expr, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpression(Expression node, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.RewriteExpressionFreeTemps(Expression expression, Stack stack)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.StackSpiller.Rewrite[T](Expression`1 lambda)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression`1.Accept(StackSpiller spiller)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Compiler.LambdaCompiler.Compile(LambdaExpression lambda)
   at System.Linq.Expressions.Expression`1.Compile(Boolean preferInterpretation)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.EntityQueryModelVisitor.CreateExecutorLambda[TResults]()
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.EntityQueryModelVisitor.CreateAsyncQueryExecutor[TResult](QueryModel queryModel)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.CompiledQueryCache.GetOrAddQueryCore[TFunc](Object cacheKey, Func`1 compiler)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.QueryCompiler.ExecuteAsync[TResult](Expression query, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Query.Internal.EntityQueryProvider.ExecuteAsync[TResult](Expression expression, CancellationToken
cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.EntityFrameworkQueryableExtensions.ExecuteAsync[TSource,TResult](MethodInfo operatorMethodInfo, IQueryable`1 source, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
   at Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.EntityFrameworkQueryableExtensions.CountAsync[TSource](IQueryable`1 source, CancellationToken cancellationToken)

Answer 1

You need to emit the expression equivalent of the EF.Functions.ILike(string, string) call.

ILike is a static extension method defined as

public static class NpgsqlDbFunctionsExtensions
{
    public static bool ILike(this DbFunctions _, string matchExpression, string pattern);
}

and Functions is a static property of the EF class

public static class EF
{
    public static DbFunctions Functions { get; }
}

Hence the expression you are seeking is something like this:

expr = Expression.Call(
    typeof(NpgsqlDbFunctionsExtensions), 
    nameof(NpgsqlDbFunctionsExtensions.ILike),
    Type.EmptyTypes,
    Expression.Property(null, typeof(EF), nameof(EF.Functions)),
    property,
    Expression.Constant(search)
);