Different Approaches to Build Web Applications Using ASP.Net

ASP.NET Core or ASP.NET MVC frameworks basically make use of the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture consisting of 3 main components, respectively Model, View and Controller. Before we explain the different development approaches for .net developers, we need to have a look at these 3 main components.

 

• Model: Models basically represent the application state ruled by the business logic. The encapsulated business logic actually work for retrieving the state to situate it back to the data store. The business logic of the model is also responsible for modifying the application state as and when required.
• Controller: Controller is there to respond to the user requests. It actually detect and map the request embedded in the models with the business logic. The responsibility of the controller also lies in choosing the correct view for the purpose of presenting the data to the user and then pass the data back to the model.
• Views: View component is ultimately responsible to make a web page available to the user. For not cluttering the view with too much logic, the controller can also pass on a specialised view that works much like a wrapper for the model data.

 

In the MVC pattern this is how different building blocks can interact to build and render the web app encompassing different interaction rules. If you like to develop faster backend using .NET, the MVC architectural pattern which is used widely has the most performance driving role to play. MVC pattern makes perfect sense for the stateless model of web based HTTP protocol.

ASP.NET Core

ASP.NET Core is the latest, modern and most equipped one among the two frameworks we mentioned. It is capable to run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It came as the ideal framework for building new web applications with a rich set of features and functionalities.

The developers can also create a new ASP.Net Core project in Visual Studio 2019 with the help of ASP.NET Core Web Application template. In the Visual Studio, each of the building blocks can be contained within its respective folder. For example, controller classes are deposited into the folder for controllers and the same goes for Views and Models.

Highly Extensible Nature of ASP.NET Core Applications

In this regard, we must draw attention to a positive aspect of ASP.Net core applications. The ASP.Net core applications are highly extensible in character. Each of the incoming requests are subject to processing by a series of components. Each component after fulfilling their respective roles can pass the request to the next component while getting a response in reply.

These components called middleware being part of the offer framework offer all standard web app features such as authentication, routing, exception handling, serving static files, HTTPS redirection, configuration, etc. By using the framework developers can build additional middleware as well.

ASP.NET MVC Framework

ASP.NET MVC is the earlier framework which existed prior to the ASP.NET Core.

Running on top of the .NET framework it doesn’t get any active support anymore. Any web application built with this framework needs to be hosted in IIS on Windows. ASP.NET MVC is no longer recommended for building new web applications.

Having the similar core folder system this framework looks much similar to the latest ASP.NET Core. The only major difference lies in the availability of a single inbuilt support for dependency injection with no scope for ready implementation.

Single-Page Application (SPA) Architecture

Now, we need to see how ASP.Net core can be utilised to build single-page web application architecture.  In a single-page web application (SPA) only one HTML page needs to be downloaded from the server as soon as the user tends to open and access the page. Any other request is not handled by the webserver but by the JavaScript code capable to update the web page as per the request. This pattern is most suitable for all web applications with intensive user interactions and activities.

ASP.NET Core and ASP.NET Web API

ASP.NET Core Web Application template can be used for other projects as well. For example, it can be used for creating a new project in Visual Studio 2019. If you are a Visual Studio user, creating a new project by using a web application template of ASP.Net Core just requires using simple commands from the command line.

As for the web API applications, there will be some differences in regard to the role of the classes. The controller classes will have bigger responsibility to handle the incoming requests and for that, they can utilise the business logic from the model classes. The only major difference in this regard will be corresponding to the View component. Here the action methods are able to return view models in a properly numbered JSON format.

ASP.NET Core SPA Templates

ASP.Net is preferred by many developers for developing single-page applications consisting of two parts, respectively, the REST files and the static files for rendering client-side application. Hosting and developing each one of them entirely depends on your discretion. To make things simple, you can also use some ASP.NET Core templates that can work with Angular and React to integrate two separate parts within one Single Page Application (SPA) development single project.

ASP.Net Core FAQ

What is ASP.NET Core?

What is ASP NET MVC core?

What is the Difference between ASP.NET Core and ASP.NET Framework?

What is difference between MVC and ASP NET core?

Conclusion

For developing .Net Applications, you have several different approaches including the two major ASP.Net frameworks, web app templates, SPA templates, and JavaScript frameworks. Obviously, the decision and your choice will depend on your project requirements.

Author Bio: Atman Rathod is the Co-founder at CMARIX TechnoLabs Pvt. Ltd., a leading ASP.Net development company with 13+ years of experience. He loves to write about technology, startups, entrepreneurship and business. His creative abilities, academic track record and leadership skills made him one of the key industry influencers as well.

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