Developing C# Web Applications with ASP.NET Core • ITER Academy

Hello, C# developers! In this post, we are diving into the world of web application development using ASP.NET Core. ASP.NET Core is a cross-platform framework for building modern, cloud-based, and internet-connected applications. Whether you are new to web development or transitioning from an older ASP.NET version, this guide will help you understand the fundamentals of ASP.NET Core.

What is ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core is a modern web framework that allows developers to build dynamic web applications and APIs. It is lightweight, modular, and designed to run on different platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. ASP.NET Core combines the functionality of the previous ASP.NET framework with a new architectural model, making it easier to create and deploy cloud-ready applications.

Setting Up Your ASP.NET Core Project

To get started with ASP.NET Core, you will need to set up your development environment:

Install the latest version of the [.NET SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download).
Use Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, or any other text editor of your choice.

Once you have your environment set up, you can create a new ASP.NET Core Web Application using the command line:

dotnet new webapp -n MyWebApp
cd MyWebApp

The above commands create a new ASP.NET Core Web Application named MyWebApp and navigate into the project directory.

Understanding ASP.NET Core Structure

An ASP.NET Core project consists of several key components:

Startup.cs: This file contains the configuration for the application. It defines services to be used and specifies the middleware components.
Program.cs: The entry point for the application. This file sets up the host and starts the web server.
wwwroot: The directory for serving static files like images, CSS, and JavaScript.
Controllers: Classes that handle incoming requests, process data, and return responses. They typically follow the MVC pattern.
Views: The HTML templates rendered in response to requests. ASP.NET Core supports Razor syntax for dynamic content.

Setting Up Middleware

ASP.NET Core uses middleware to handle requests and responses. Middleware is configured in the Configure method of Startup.cs. Here’s a basic setup:

public class Startup
{
    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        services.AddControllersWithViews(); // Add MVC services
    }

    public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IWebHostEnvironment env)
    {
        if (env.IsDevelopment())
        {
            app.UseDeveloperExceptionPage();
        }
        else
        {
            app.UseExceptionHandler("/Home/Error");
            app.UseHsts();
        }

        app.UseHttpsRedirection();
        app.UseStaticFiles();

        app.UseRouting();

        app.UseAuthorization();

        app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
        {
            endpoints.MapControllerRoute(
                name: "default",
                pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");
        });
    }
}

In this example, we set up middleware for exception handling, HTTPS redirection, serving static files, and routing requests to controllers.

Creating a Controller

Controllers handle incoming HTTP requests. Here’s a simple example of a controller:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public IActionResult Index()
    {
        return View(); // Returns the Index view
    }

    public IActionResult About()
    {
        ViewData["Message"] = "Your application description page.";
        return View();
    }
}

The HomeController contains two action methods: Index and About. Each method returns a view that corresponds to the user’s requests.

Creating Views

Views are typically written using Razor syntax. Create a new file called Index.cshtml in the Views/Home directory:

@{ Layout = null; }



    Home Page


    Welcome to My Web App
    This is the index page.

This simple Razor view displays a welcome message.

Running Your ASP.NET Core Application

To run your application, navigate to the project directory in the command line and use the following command:

dotnet run

Your application should now be accessible at https://localhost:5001 (or http://localhost:5000 depending on your configuration).

Conclusion

ASP.NET Core is a powerful framework for building modern web applications in C#. By understanding its architecture, middleware, controllers, and views, you can create dynamic and robust applications quickly. This introduction should set you on the right path to explore more advanced features of ASP.NET Core as you continue building your web applications.

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