Understanding Blazor

Blazor is a web framework for building interactive client-side web UIs with .NET. It enables developers to use C# for both front-end and back-end development, eliminating the need to switch between languages and leveraging the power of the .NET ecosystem on the client.

Key Concepts of Blazor

Component-Based Architecture

Blazor applications are built using reusable components. These components are typically written in C# and Razor syntax (.razor files). Each component encapsulates its own UI markup, styling, and logic.

• Razor Syntax: A combination of HTML markup and C# code within a single file.
• Component Lifecycle: Components have a well-defined lifecycle with methods like OnInitializedAsync, OnParametersSetAsync, and ShouldRender, allowing control over initialization, parameter updates, and rendering.
• Data Binding: Blazor offers robust data binding capabilities, allowing UI elements to synchronize automatically with component state.

Hosting Models

Blazor supports two primary hosting models:

1. Blazor Server: Components run on the server, and UI updates are sent to the client via SignalR. The client maintains a persistent connection. This model offers fast initial load times and access to server resources.
2. Blazor WebAssembly (WASM): Components run directly in the browser using WebAssembly. The .NET runtime is downloaded to the browser, enabling full client-side execution. This model is ideal for offline scenarios and reducing server load.

Dependency Injection

Blazor has built-in support for dependency injection (DI). This allows for easy management of services and their lifecycles throughout the application.

Routing

Blazor provides a flexible routing system that allows you to define routes for your components using the @page directive. This enables navigation between different views within your application.

@page "/counter"

<h1>Counter</h1>

<p>Current count: @currentCount</p>

<button class="btn btn-primary" @onclick="IncrementCount">Click me</button>

@code {
    private int currentCount = 0;

    private void IncrementCount()
    {
        currentCount++;
    }
}
            

JavaScript Interoperability

Blazor allows seamless interaction with JavaScript. You can invoke JavaScript functions from C# and vice-versa, providing access to browser APIs and existing JavaScript libraries.

Benefits of Blazor

• Unified Development: Use C# for the entire application stack.
• Code Reusability: Share .NET code between client and server.
• Productivity: Leverage familiar .NET tools and libraries.
• Performance: Blazor WebAssembly offers near-native performance in the browser.
• Security: Run sensitive logic on the server with Blazor Server.

Getting Started with Blazor

To start building Blazor applications, you can use the .NET CLI or Visual Studio. The Blazor project templates provide a solid foundation for your development.

Refer to the official ASP.NET Core Blazor documentation for more detailed information and examples.