Required Properties on optional Entity Framework Complex Types

Question

I want to define [Required] attributes on a Complex Type in Entity Framework. For example, I have a Customer entity with an optional Address

Answer 1

It's not possible with a complex type. You'll need to create an Address entity if you want it to be nullable.

What EF will do with a complex type is map the properties to the same table - which it sounds like you've intended.

Because of that - your schema for your example would look like this:

With a non-nullable column for Address_PostCode, since it's not valid in the database there's not a way for EF to create the row, without your object having an address, and a postcode.