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What Is ASP.NET Core?

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What is ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core is a free, open-source, cross-platform web framework developed by Microsoft. It’s used to build modern, cloud-based, and internet-connected applications such as web apps, APIs, microservices, and real-time applications.

It's a re-engineered version of ASP.NET that runs on .NET Core, which is also cross-platform and modular. Starting from .NET 5, ASP.NET Core is simply part of the unified .NET platform.

ASP.NET Core – Key Characteristics

Feature Description
Cross-platform Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Unified Framework Combines MVC, Web API, Razor Pages, Blazor, and SignalR.
High Performance Optimized for speed and scalability (top-tier in benchmarks).
Built-in DI Supports dependency injection out of the box.
Minimal APIs (since .NET 6) Allows creating APIs with very little boilerplate code.
Modular You include only the features you need via NuGet.
Cloud-ready Built-in logging, configuration, environment support.
Open Source Actively developed with community on GitHub.

ASP.NET Core Application Structure




public class Program


{


public static void Main(string[] args)


{


var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);


// Sets up app


var app = builder.Build();


// Builds middleware pipeline


app.MapGet("/", () => "Hello World!");


app.Run();


// Starts the app


}


}






Starting with .NET 6, ASP.NET Core apps use minimal hosting and configuration, making them cleaner and easier to start.




 ASP.NET Core Components







    
        

            Component
            Purpose
        

    
    
        

            Middleware
            Processes requests/responses via pipeline
        

        

            Routing
            Maps incoming requests to handlers
        

        

            Razor Pages
            Simplified web UI pattern
        

        

            MVC
            Model-View-Controller pattern
        

        

            Blazor
            Build interactive UIs with C# instead of JavaScript
        

        

            SignalR
            Real-time communication (chat, notifications)
        

        

            EF Core
            ORM for database access
        

        

            Minimal APIs
            Super-lightweight HTTP services (since .NET 6)
        

    









ASP.NET Core Versions & Evolution







    
        

            Version
            Released
            Key Features
        

    
    
        

            1.0
            2016
            First cross-platform version, separate from classic ASP.NET
        

        

            2.0
            2017
            Razor Pages, simplified project structure
        

        

            2.1 (LTS)
            2018
            SignalR Core, HTTPS enforcement
        

        

            2.2
            2018
            Endpoint Routing, health checks
        

        

            3.0
            2019
            Removed support for .NET Framework, introduced gRPC
        

        

            3.1 (LTS)
            2019
            Long-term support (until Dec 2022)
        

        

            5.0
            2020
            Unified .NET platform (no more “Core” in name)
        

        

            6.0 (LTS)
            2021
            Minimal APIs, Hot Reload, simplified startup
        

        

            7.0
            2022
            Rate limiting, output caching, better Blazor
        

        

            8.0 (LTS)
            2023
            Blazor Server & WASM unification, native AOT, performance boost
        

        

            9.0
            (Expected 2024)
            Ongoing innovation, continued Blazor enhancement
        

    










ℹ️ From .NET 5 onwards, the name “Core” is dropped. It’s just ASP.NET on .NET [version].






Real-World Use Cases


    
    
  • 
    
    
    RESTful APIs (e.g., for mobile/web apps)
    
    
    • 
    
  • 
    
    
    Dynamic server-rendered web apps
    
    
    • 
    
  • 
    
    
    Blazor SPA apps using only C#
    
    
    • 
    
  • 
    
    
    Real-time dashboards or chats
    
    
    • 
    
  • 
    
    
    Microservices and containerized deployments
    
    
    • 
    
  • 
    
    
    Serverless functions (with Azure Functions)
    
    
    • 







                        

                               
                                                            
                        


                    



                

            

        

    






        
        
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