ASP .NET vs Razor (How it Works for Developers)

1.1 ASP.NET

Since its inception, ASP.NET has been the cornerstone of Microsoft's web development framework. Built on the robust .NET Framework, it gives developers complete control over their web applications through its powerful .NET MVC (Model View Controller) pattern. The ASP.NET Core MVC framework excels at building web applications that require complex architectural patterns and extensive customization.

1.2 Razor

Razor represents a modern approach to web development, introduced as part of the ASP.NET Core ecosystem. It's a powerful view engine that simplifies server-side code integration with HTML. Razor Pages offers a page-focused scenario that makes web development more intuitive and straightforward.

3.1 Architectural Approach

The architectural pattern represents the most fundamental difference between these approaches. ASP.NET Core MVC follows the traditional Model View Controller pattern with three interconnected components. Each request flows through a routing system to appropriate MVC controllers, which then interact with the model and select the proper view.

In contrast, Razor Pages adopts a simpler, page-focused approach. Each Razor page has its own PageModel class that handles the data model and user input. This structure eliminates the need for huge controller classes and simplifies form submissions and data binding.

3.2 Request Handling Patterns

The pattern of handling requests differs significantly between the two. In MVC, requests are routed through controllers with actions that return views. A typical MVC controller code looks like this:

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public string Message { get; private set; }

    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        // Return the view associated with this action
        return View();
    }
}

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public string Message { get; private set; }

    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        // Return the view associated with this action
        return View();
    }
}

Public Class HomeController
	Inherits Controller

	Private privateMessage As String
	Public Property Message() As String
		Get
			Return privateMessage
		End Get
		Private Set(ByVal value As String)
			privateMessage = value
		End Set
	End Property

	Public Function Index() As IActionResult
		' Return the view associated with this action
		Return View()
	End Function
End Class

Meanwhile, Razor Pages handles requests directly in the PageModel with methods like OnGet and OnPost:

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    public string Title { get; private set; }

    public void OnGet()
    {
        // Handle GET request and initialize data for the view
    }
}

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    public string Title { get; private set; }

    public void OnGet()
    {
        // Handle GET request and initialize data for the view
    }
}

Public Class IndexModel
	Inherits PageModel

	Private privateTitle As String
	Public Property Title() As String
		Get
			Return privateTitle
		End Get
		Private Set(ByVal value As String)
			privateTitle = value
		End Set
	End Property

	Public Sub OnGet()
		' Handle GET request and initialize data for the view
	End Sub
End Class

3.3 Page Organization and Structure

Razor Pages organize code in a pages folder structure, where each page is self-contained with its view and model. MVC, however, separates these concerns into distinct folders for Models, Views, and Controllers. This fundamental difference affects how developers organize and maintain their code.

3.4 Data Flow and Binding

MVC implements data flow through controller actions, model binding, and view rendering, with explicit control over each step. Razor Pages simplifies this with two-way data binding and automatic model binding through the PageModel. This makes form submissions and validation error handling more straightforward in Razor Pages.

3.5 Component Reusability

While both frameworks support view components and tag helpers, they approach reusability differently. MVC allows for more granular control through partial views and child actions, while Razor Pages emphasizes page-based components and shared layouts. The MVC pattern provides more options for creating reusable components across different views.

3.6 Development Complexity

The learning curve and development complexity vary significantly between the two approaches. MVC's separation of concerns through three interconnected components requires more initial setup but offers greater flexibility. Razor Pages' simplified structure makes it easier to get started but may require additional work for complex scenarios.

4.1 Benefits of ASP.NET Core MVC

• The MVC framework excels in scenarios requiring isolated concerns and complex architectural patterns
• Provides developers with complete control over the application structure
• Supports extensive customization
• Mature ecosystem offers robust solutions for handling REST APIs
• Strong support for dependency injection and complex routing scenarios
• MVVM solution pattern is well-supported
• Efficiently handles dynamic server views
• Tag helpers and view components provide powerful tools for building reusable UI components

4.2 Drawbacks of ASP.NET Core MVC

• Steep learning curve for newcomers
• Challenges in understanding interconnected components of the MVC pattern
• Managing huge controller classes can become difficult in larger applications
• Separation of concerns, while beneficial, can lead to increased complexity

4.3 Benefits of Razor Pages

• Excels in page-focused scenarios
• Offers a simpler development model suitable for smaller web applications
• Strong support for two-way data binding and form control
• Built-in support for validation errors and AJAX calls
• Clear organization through the pages folder structure
• Intuitive Razor syntax for mixing HTML and server-side code
• Straightforward approach to handling form submissions and user input
• Reduced development time

4.4 Drawbacks of Razor Pages

• May not be optimal for complex applications requiring extensive architectural patterns
• Page model approach can limit flexibility compared to MVC controllers
• Simpler architecture might not scale well for enterprise-level applications
• Less suitable for applications requiring complex routing and controller logic