Blazor: An Overview
Blazor is a free, open-source web framework that enables developers to create interactive client-side web UIs with .NET and C#. Blazor allows you to build real-time, high-performance web applications without requiring JavaScript.
What is Blazor?
Blazor is a web UI framework for building interactive client-side web applications with .NET. It enables developers to use C# for both front-end and back-end development, reducing the need to switch between different languages and skill sets. Blazor applications can run in one of several hosting models, each with its own advantages and use cases.
Blazor Hosting Models
Blazor offers flexible hosting models to suit different application needs:
Blazor Server
In the Blazor Server hosting model, the application logic runs on the server, and UI updates are handled over a SignalR connection. This model offers:
- Faster initial load times as only the UI markup is sent to the client.
- Access to server-side resources and APIs.
- A simpler development experience for certain scenarios.
The client-side UI is rendered on the server, and then sent to the browser. User interactions are sent back to the server via SignalR, triggering events that re-render the UI. The updated UI is then sent back to the browser.
Blazor WebAssembly
Blazor WebAssembly (WASM) allows you to run Blazor applications directly in the browser. The .NET runtime is downloaded to the browser along with your application's code and dependencies, enabling client-side execution. This model provides:
- True client-side execution, independent of the server after the initial download.
- Offline capabilities and faster load times for subsequent visits.
- Full access to browser APIs.
The application is compiled into WebAssembly format, which can be executed by modern web browsers. This unlocks the potential for rich, interactive web applications with C#.
Blazor Hybrid
Blazor Hybrid enables you to host Blazor components in native desktop or mobile applications. This is achieved by embedding a component's UI within a WebView control. This model is ideal for:
- Building cross-platform applications using .NET MAUI or other native frameworks.
- Sharing code between web and native applications.
- Leveraging existing Blazor skills in native development.
Blazor Hybrid components run on the native device's .NET runtime, not in a browser. Communication between the Blazor components and the native platform occurs over a local interop channel.
Key Features
- Component-based architecture: Build reusable UI components with C# and Razor syntax.
- C# for client-side logic: Leverage the power and familiarity of C# for all your web development needs.
- Server-side rendering (SSR) and interactivity: Choose the best rendering strategy for your application.
- Integration with JavaScript: Seamlessly call JavaScript functions from C# and vice-versa.
- Access to the .NET ecosystem: Utilize the vast libraries and tools available in the .NET ecosystem.
- Code sharing: Share code between Blazor web apps and native applications.
Getting Started
To start building Blazor applications, you'll need to have the .NET SDK installed. You can create a new Blazor project using the .NET CLI:
dotnet new blazorwasm -o MyBlazorApp
cd MyBlazorApp
dotnet runThis command creates a new Blazor WebAssembly project named MyBlazorApp. You can then explore the generated project structure, which includes Razor components (.razor files) that define your UI and logic.
dotnet new blazorserver -o MyBlazorServerApp.
Further Reading
Dive deeper into Blazor development with these resources: