If you are confused between ASP.NET MVC (Model View Controller) technology and classic ASP.NET, then this post is going to be a great help for you.
ASP.NET Web forms is a traditional model. It is event driven development model with event driven web pages written as a combination of HTML, server controls, and server code.
Whereas MVC is the latest development framework that provides full control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for building web applications.
Although both the frameworks are used to develop ASP.NET applications, but more and more developers are progressively choosing to make use of ASP.NET MVC because of the limitations of ASP.NET Web Forms.
Let us understand the difference between the two frameworks, to determine which one is the best –
- Page life cycle is followed in web forms, whereas no page life cycle is used in latest model.
- Limited control over HTML, JavaScript, and CSS is possible in classic approach. In MVC, you get full control over HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
- ASP.NET Web Forms employs Page controller pattern method (each page is allocated a controller), whereas MVC utilizes Front Controller method, which mean there is a shared controlled for all the pages for implementation of layout.
- Classic web forms have no separation of concerns because each page has its own controllers. Whereas, MVC has clean separation of concerns because controllers are shared for all pages and neatly separated.
- Classic framework does not support automated testing, while things are quite simple in the MVC approach.
- Classic method employs stateful behavior and viewstate, whereas MVC works on stateless behavior and no viewstate concept.
- Statefulness behavior and big viewstate in classic method causes problem while building web application. However, use of controller and non-dependent state on view in latest web development MVC framework generates clean output.
- Minimal knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS is enough to work upon ASP.NET Web Forms. Detailed knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS is required in MVC.
- Classic approach is optimal for small-scale applications with limited team size, whereas Model View Controller is used for large-scale applications where different teams work together.
The above stated points clearly explain the advantages of MVC model. While developers are increasingly choosing ASP.NET MVC, it must be acknowledged that classic ASP.NET has its own loyal fan base as well.
