How to Fix: Only One <configSections> Element Error in Web.Config

Introduction

Today I was working on Entity Framework and trying to add the connection string to the Web.Config to specify the database. I wrote the connection string like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<configuration>
   <connectionStrings>
      <add name="SQLConnect"
           connectionString="Data Source=SAHIL; Initial Catalog=Demo; Integrated Security=SSPI"
           providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
   </connectionStrings>

   <configSections>
      <sectionnamesectionname="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework,
          Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" />
   </configSections>

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</configuration>

When I ran the application, I experienced a strange error that says: "Only one <configSections> element allowed. It must be the first child element of the root <configuration> element".



It took me some time to determine the cause of the error and how to fix it.

Error:

"Only one <configSections> element allowed. It must be the first child element of the root <configuration> element".

If you read the error carefully, it states that only one <configSections> element is allowed inside the Web.config and it should be the first child element and placed at the top. The reason for the error is that I accidentally placed the <connectionStrings></connectionStrings> at the top over the <configSections></configSections> and by conventions this is a violation. So, to fix the error, I rearranged the elements and the error was fixed.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>

   <configSections>
      <sectionnamesectionname="entityFramework" type="System.Data.Entity.Internal.ConfigFile.EntityFrameworkSection, EntityFramework,
       Version=6.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" requirePermission="false" />
   </configSections>

   <connectionStrings>
      <add name="SQLConnect"
           connectionString="Data Source=SAHIL; Initial Catalog=Demo; Integrated Security=SSPI"
           providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
   </connectionStrings>

   :
   :
   :
   :
   :
   :
   :
</configuration>

Conclusion

Your feedback and constructive criticism is always appreciated, keep it coming. Until then try to put a ding in the Universe.