MSDN Documentation

Razor Pages vs. MVC in ASP.NET Core

Choosing between Razor Pages and MVC in ASP.NET Core is a common decision point for developers. Both are powerful frameworks for building web applications, but they offer different approaches to structuring your code and handling requests.

What is MVC?

The Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern separates an application into three interconnected components:

• Model: Represents the application's data and business logic.
• View: Responsible for presenting the data to the user, typically as HTML.
• Controller: Handles user input, interacts with the Model, and selects the View to render.

MVC is a mature pattern with a well-defined separation of concerns. It's ideal for complex applications where distinct roles for data, presentation, and logic are beneficial.

What are Razor Pages?

Razor Pages provide a page-centric approach to building web UIs with ASP.NET Core. Each Razor Page consists of a .cshtml file for the UI markup and a corresponding .cshtml.cs code-behind file that contains the page logic (handlers, properties, etc.).

Key characteristics of Razor Pages include:

• Simplicity: Easier to get started with for simpler applications or individual pages.
• File-based routing: The URL is directly mapped to a page file.
• Encapsulation: Page logic is co-located with the UI markup.

Key Differences and When to Use Which

MVC Advantages:

• Strong separation of concerns, excellent for large, complex applications.
• Well-established pattern with vast community support and resources.
• Facilitates testability and maintainability in large codebases.

Razor Pages Advantages:

• Simplified development for straightforward web pages and forms.
• Reduced boilerplate code compared to MVC for many scenarios.
• Intuitive file-based routing can be easier to grasp initially.

Scenarios:

• Use MVC when:
  • Building large, enterprise-level applications with complex business logic and distinct layers.
  • You need a highly structured separation of concerns for team collaboration and maintainability.
  • Your application heavily relies on reusable components and a clear architectural blueprint.
• Use Razor Pages when:
  • Developing simpler websites, blogs, or content-driven applications.
  • You need to quickly build individual pages with specific logic.
  • You prefer a more streamlined development experience without sacrificing functionality.
  • Migrating from earlier ASP.NET Web Forms applications.

Code Examples

MVC Controller and View

// HomeController.cs
public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        ViewBag.Message = "Welcome to MVC!";
        return View();
    }
}

// Index.cshtml
@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Home Page";
}
@ViewBag.Message
This is an MVC view.

Razor Page

// Pages/Index.cshtml.cs
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.RazorPages;

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    public string Message { get; set; }

    public void OnGet()
    {
        Message = "Welcome to Razor Pages!";
    }
}

// Pages/Index.cshtml
@page
@model IndexModel
@{
    ViewData["Title"] = "Home Page";
}
@Model.Message
This is a Razor Page.

Can You Use Them Together?

Yes, ASP.NET Core is flexible. You can have an application that uses both MVC controllers and Razor Pages. This allows you to leverage the strengths of each pattern where they fit best within your project.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your project's complexity, your team's familiarity with the patterns, and your development workflow preferences. Both Razor Pages and MVC are excellent options for building modern web applications with ASP.NET Core.

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