ASP.NET Core is a high-performance, open-source, cross-platform framework for building modern, cloud-enabled, internet-connected applications. It is a rewrite of ASP.NET 4.x and incorporates lessons learned over many years of building web applications.
This guide provides a comprehensive introduction to ASP.NET Core, covering its core concepts, architecture, and the benefits it offers to developers. Whether you're new to web development or migrating from an existing platform, ASP.NET Core offers a powerful and flexible foundation for your projects.
ASP.NET Core offers a multitude of advantages, making it a top choice for modern web application development:
Understanding the following core concepts is crucial for effective ASP.NET Core development:
ASP.NET Core applications use a pipeline of middleware components to handle HTTP requests. Each middleware can process the request and then either pass it to the next middleware in the pipeline or terminate the request.
// Example of a simple middleware pipeline
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
var app = builder.Build();
if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
app.UseExceptionHandler("/Error");
app.UseHsts();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();
app.UseRouting();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapGet("/", () => "Hello World!");
app.Run();
ASP.NET Core has built-in support for dependency injection, a design pattern that promotes loose coupling and makes applications more maintainable and testable. Services are registered with a DI container and can be injected into constructors or properties of other classes.
ASP.NET Core's configuration system is flexible and allows you to load settings from various sources, including JSON files, environment variables, command-line arguments, and more. This makes it easy to manage configuration across different environments.
ASP.NET Core applications can be hosted in a variety of ways. They can be self-hosted using Kestrel, a cross-platform web server, or hosted within IIS. Docker containers are also a popular deployment option.
Ready to build your first ASP.NET Core application? Head over to the Getting Started section for step-by-step instructions and a practical tutorial.
This introduction provides a foundational understanding. As you explore further, you'll discover the extensive capabilities of ASP.NET Core for building robust and scalable web applications.