ASP.NET

ASP.NET is a freely distributed platform for developing dynamic websites and web applications, created by Microsoft and part of the NET. Framework. It is a further development of the older Microsoft ASP technology and retains many of its features and functionality, making it easier for developers to transition to the new tool.

The development of ASP.NET began in 1997, when Microsoft began searching for a new web application model. The first version was released alongside the .NET Framework and allows web applications and websites to be written in any language supported by .NET. This technology has powered many major web projects, including the developer’s main website, Microsoft. 

An alternative modification of this platform is ASP.NET Core, a cross-platform open-source framework for web application development. Although its structure utilizes different architectural solutions that provide greater modularity and performance than its predecessor, both products generally implement the same programming concepts.

What is ASP.NET?

The platform was developed as an alternative to another popular web development tool, Java. Initially, experimental versions of Microsoft ASP.NET (then known as XSP) were written in Java, but the company’s license to use this language in its products expired in 2003. With this prospect in mind, the company’s developers decided to create a platform with its own common language runtime, the Common Language Runtime. This allowed web application development in any language supported by .NET technology, which includes most modern programming languages. 

Using a common language runtime means that code written by a web programmer in any programming language runs in two stages:

• First compiled into Microsoft Intermediate Language – that is, regardless of the language the web page was originally written in, it is converted into a unified document;
• The resulting IL assembly is then compiled into low-level machine code, which is executed in just-in-time mode, that is, immediately before the application is launched.

Before compiling into low-level machine code, the compiler determines the operating system type and its bit depth. This allows programmers to create a single high-level language code for all common platforms. 

ASP.NET implements an object-oriented programming model. This gives developers access to all objects in the .NET Framework. This model also provides:

• creating reusable classes that make writing code easier and faster;
• standardization of code using interfaces;
• extending existing classes through inheritance;
• bundling useful functions into a compiled component that can be distributed separately.

Another opportunity afforded by the object-oriented programming model lies in server-side controls. These are encapsulated objects that developers can manipulate with code to customize their appearance, provide data, and respond to events. The low-level HTML markup rendered by these controls is hidden. This eliminates the need for developers to write it themselves; instead, the encapsulated objects are automatically rewritten into the appropriate HTML elements after the web page is rendered.

ASP.NET Development Models

The ASP.NET framework implements three tools for developing various web applications. Each offers its own programming style, the choice between which is determined by the type of web application being developed and the programmer’s knowledge and skills. 

ASP.NET Web Forms. This platform is designed for drag-and-drop website development and event-driven interaction. It’s essentially a visual web page builder. Its design surface and wide range of components and controls allow you to quickly develop complex websites with a fully functional user interface and data access. It’s suitable for programmers with intermediate to advanced skills in rapid application development.

ASP.NET MVC. This framework is based on patterns that speed up and simplify the development of dynamic websites. It allows the programmer to clearly separate concerns and has absolute control over the markup, making the process more flexible. ASP.NET MVC includes a wide range of features for developing highly complex applications that utilize the latest web standards. However, this platform is most suitable for creating mobile and single-page applications. 

ASP.NET WEB API. This framework simplifies the development of HTTP services for multiple clients, such as web browsers and mobile devices. ASP.NET Web API allows you to create HTML markup and core code simultaneously in the same file—a classic development model dating back to the early days of the web. However, it’s ideal for building easily scalable applications based on the .NET Framework. This platform is most often used by novice or intermediate programmers.

In addition to these core platforms, the ASP.NET WEB API includes:

• Web Pages (now Razor) is a browser engine with a simplified syntax that allows you to add dynamic code and data access to a page’s HTML markup.
• WebHooks – a version of the Webhook template that allows you to subscribe to events and publish them via the HTTP protocol;
• SignalR is an open-source software library that allows server-side code to send asynchronous notifications to client-side web applications. An 
• HTTP handler is a handler of requests received by a web application, which is a file with program code written in any language. NET-compatible language, without HTML markup, event handling, or other auxiliary technologies;
• ASP.NET AJAX is an extension with client and server components for developing pages with background information exchange between a web browser and a server.
• Dynamic Data is a component for creating web applications that interact with databases.

Advantages of ASP.NET

Performance. Application or page code created using this platform is compiled on an as-needed basis. Furthermore, compilation occurs only once, and the machine code is saved to system folders. This significantly improves the platform’s performance, especially compared to similar platforms available at the time of the initial release.

Error minimization. Most errors in source code are caught by the platform during development. However, even if some bugs are missed by the system in the final code, they are processed directly during program execution. This, on the one hand, simplifies the development process, as the programmer does not have to search for errors manually. On the other hand, it improves application stability by eliminating critical bugs.

Multilingualism. ASP.NET applications can be written in most modern, widely used programming languages, as they are all supported by the .NET Framework. The program’s source code is converted into intermediate code, which is then compiled into machine code. With support for multiple programming languages, ASP.NET becomes a truly universal platform, accessible to programmers learning different programming languages. 

Windows-specific. Although ASP.NET is developed and supported by Microsoft and is proprietary to the corporation, it is available for use on PCs running macOS and Linux operating systems. This significantly expands the number of programmers who can use this platform to create web applications. 

Using reusable code. Features like reusable classes and templates eliminate the need for programmers to rewrite code for recurring elements of a web application. This makes development faster and more convenient, while reducing the likelihood of errors (debugging a recurring element once is sufficient).

Ease of development. ASP.NET is built on Microsoft’s core approach to programming as a highly simplified process, with many functions and stages automatable. A wide range of controls, encapsulated objects converted to HTML markup, templates, and other features significantly simplify the creation of web applications, including complex ones. The availability of multiple platforms in ASP.NET allows programmers to choose the tools that best suit their level of knowledge and skill.

Versatility. ASP.NET offers a wide range of features, components, controls, page templates, and more. This framework allows you to develop websites and web applications of various sizes and structures, give them a unique look, test finished products, and perform the vast majority of development-related operations. Furthermore, the platform’s functionality can be expanded by installing additional extensions and integrating with the ASP.NET Framework.

Disadvantages of ASP.NET

Vendor Dependency. ASP.NET is entirely developed and supported by Microsoft. Because of this, delays in releasing important updates (such as security updates) can impact development time or the quality of the final web application.

Insufficient performance when developing small websites. If a website is developed without Visual Studio, each page is compiled separately when a request is sent to it. This somewhat reduces the performance of small websites. However, this drawback does not apply to large, complex projects, as pages are compiled simultaneously. 

When it was released in 2002, ASP.NET represented a breakthrough not only compared to its predecessor, ASP, but also to many other third-party alternatives. Many widely used web programming concepts and models were first implemented in this platform. It remains one of the most popular frameworks for creating web applications of various types, from small single-page sites to complex and sophisticated projects. At the same time, the development of other development environments made the advantages of ASP.NET less relevant, leading to the creation of an alternative modification, ASP Core, which boasts modularity and improved performance.