What are the differences between ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC and when would you choose to use one over the other?

Differences between ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC

ASP.NET Web Forms is a framework for building web applications using a declarative programming model, while ASP.NET MVC is a framework that implements the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern for creating web applications.

Some key differences between ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC include:

• ASP.NET Web Forms uses a stateful programming model with server controls, view state, and postbacks, while ASP.NET MVC follows a stateless approach with controller actions and views.
• ASP.NET Web Forms provides rapid development and drag-and-drop controls for building applications quickly, while ASP.NET MVC offers better separation of concerns and control over the HTML output.
• ASP.NET Web Forms is suited for small to medium-sized applications with complex user interfaces, while ASP.NET MVC is preferred for large-scale applications with testability and flexibility in mind.

When to Choose ASP.NET Web Forms or ASP.NET MVC

Choose ASP.NET Web Forms when:

• You need to build applications quickly with minimal code
• You are familiar with event-driven programming and want to use server controls
• You prefer a design-time experience with visual components

Choose ASP.NET MVC when:

• You want better control over your HTML markup and front-end technologies
• You need testability and maintainability with separation of concerns
• You are building large-scale applications that require flexibility and extensibility

Ultimately, the choice between ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC depends on the specific requirements of your project and your familiarity with the programming models of each framework. Both have their strengths and are suitable for different types of web applications.

For more information, check out the official documentation for ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC.