Access a default database created by Entity Framework.

Find the Connection String

In you ASP.NET WebApi controller, write:

ApplicationDbContext db = new ApplicationDbContext();
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(db.Database.Connection.ConnectionString);

Example of default Entity Framework connection string in the Output window:

Data Source=(localdb)\mssqllocaldb;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|SchoolContext.mdf;Initial Catalog=SchoolContext;Integrated Security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True

Find Your LocalDB Information

Open a Command Prompt for VS2015 and type:

SqlLocalDB.exe info

Output:

MSSQLLocalDB

Print all the information of MSSQLLocalDB:

SqlLocalDB.exe info "MSSQLLocalDB"

Output:

Name:               mssqllocaldb
Version:            12.0.2000.8
Shared name:
Owner:              MyPc\bob
Auto-create:        Yes
State:              Running
Last start time:    12/15/2015 9:41:45 PM
Instance pipe name: np:\\.\pipe\LOCALDB#A0F2C8F3\tsql\query

Explore Your LocalDB

Add SQLCMD.exe to the command line path:

set path=%path%;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Tools\Binn\

Then connect to the database:

sqlcmd -S np:\\.\pipe\LOCALDB#A0F2C8F3\tsql\query

Display all databases:

SELECT name,dbid FROM master.dbo.sysdatabases;
GO

Output:

name          dbid
------------- ----
master        1
tempdb        2
model         3
msdb          4
SchoolContext 5

(5 rows affected)

Select a database:

USE SchoolContext;
GO

Output:

Changed database context to 'SchoolContext'.

Display all the tables:

SELECT * FROM information_schema.tables;
GO

Output:

TABLE_CATALOG  TABLE_SCHEMA TABLE_NAME          TABLE_TYPE

-------------- ------------ ------------------- ----------
SchoolContext  dbo          Ingredient          BASE TABLE
SchoolContext  dbo          Recipe              BASE TABLE
SchoolContext  dbo          RecipeIngredient    BASE TABLE
SchoolContext  dbo          __MigrationHistory  BASE TABLE

(4 rows affected)