clean-architecture

Clean Architecture prevents dependency tangling in .NET by enforcing a four-project layout (Domain, Application, Infrastructure, Api) with strict dependency direction. The Domain layer stays isolated, while outer layers reference inner abstractions to keep business rules testable.

You implement command and query use cases as focused Application handlers that coordinate domain logic and persistence via abstractions. This use-case-first orchestration keeps API endpoints thin, mapping HTTP requests to use cases without embedding business rules in controllers.

You need clean architecture when building .NET domains with invariants and wanting to swap infrastructure implementations like EF Core or external services. It establishes clear boundaries, allowing you to replace storage implementations without changing core business logic.

Dependency inversion keeps the Domain free of framework dependencies by having Infrastructure depend on Application and Domain via interfaces. This enforces a strict separation where API endpoints depend only on abstractions, making the domain isolated and testable.

Yes, clean architecture treats infrastructure as a plugin, allowing you to swap EF Core, external services, and storage implementations without changing business logic. The Application layer coordinates persistence via abstractions, decoupling workflows from specific data providers.

API endpoints should be thin to prevent embedding business rules in controllers. Clean architecture maps HTTP requests directly to use case handlers and returns responses, ensuring that API endpoints depend only on abstractions and keeping delivery concerns separate from business workflows.