In the dynamic world of .NET web development, two frameworks attract particular attention: Blazor and ASP.NET Core MVC. Both are powerful tools for building modern web applications, but each has its own unique features and use cases. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both technologies, compare their strengths, and consider which one may be the better choice for your next project.
What Is Blazor?
Blazor is a modern framework for building interactive web applications using C# and .NET instead of JavaScript. It allows you to write both client-side and server-side logic in a single language, which greatly simplifies the development process.
Example Blazor component:
@page "/"
<h1>Welcome to Blazor!</h1>
<button class="btn btn-primary" @onclick="IncrementCount">Click me</button>
<p>Counter: @currentCount</p>
@code {
private int currentCount = 0;
private void IncrementCount()
{
currentCount++;
}
}What Is ASP.NET Core MVC?
ASP.NET Core MVC is a framework for building scalable web applications based on the Model-View-Controller pattern. It is part of the ASP.NET Core platform and offers full control over HTML markup as well as easy integration with existing JavaScript libraries.
Example ASP.NET Core MVC controller:
public class HomeController : Controller
{
private int _count = 0;
public IActionResult Index()
{
return View();
}
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Increment()
{
_count++;
return Json(new { count = _count });
}
}Example ASP.NET Core MVC view:
@{
ViewData["Title"] = "Home Page";
}
<h1>Welcome to ASP.NET Core MVC!</h1>
<button id="incrementBtn" class="btn btn-primary">Click me</button>
<p>Counter: <span id="counter">0</span></p>
@section Scripts {
<script>
$(function() {
$("#incrementBtn").click(function() {
$.post("/Home/Increment", function(data) {
$("#counter").text(data.count);
});
});
});
</script>
}Comparison of Key Aspects
1. Programming Model
• Blazor: Component-based, reactive
• ASP.NET Core MVC: MVC pattern, traditional request–response cycle
2. Programming Language
• Blazor: C# on both the front end and back end
• ASP.NET Core MVC: C# on the back end, JavaScript on the front end
3. Rendering
• Blazor: Can be client-side (WebAssembly) or server-side
• ASP.NET Core MVC: Server-side rendering
4. Interactivity
• Blazor: Native interactivity without writing JavaScript
• ASP.NET Core MVC: Requires JavaScript for client-side interactivity
Usage Examples
Blazor – Dynamic Task List
@page "/todo"
<h3>Todo list</h3>
<ul>
@foreach (var task in tasks)
{
<li>
<input type="checkbox" @bind="task.IsCompleted" />
<span class="@(task.IsCompleted ? "completed" : "")">@task.Title</span>
<button @onclick="() => RemoveTask(task)">Delete</button>
</li>
}
</ul>
<input @bind="newTaskTitle" placeholder="New task" />
<button @onclick="AddTask">Add</button>
@code {
private List<TodoItem> tasks = new List<TodoItem>();
private string newTaskTitle;
private void AddTask()
{
if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(newTaskTitle))
{
tasks.Add(new TodoItem { Title = newTaskTitle });
newTaskTitle = string.Empty;
}
}
private void RemoveTask(TodoItem task)
{
tasks.Remove(task);
}
private class TodoItem
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public bool IsCompleted { get; set; }
}
}
<style>
.completed {
text-decoration: line-through;
}
</style>ASP.NET Core MVC – Dynamic Task List
Controller:
public class TodoController : Controller
{
private static List<TodoItem> _tasks = new List<TodoItem>();
public IActionResult Index()
{
return View(_tasks);
}
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Add(string title)
{
if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(title))
{
_tasks.Add(new TodoItem { Title = title });
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Remove(int index)
{
if (index >= 0 && index < _tasks.Count)
{
_tasks.RemoveAt(index);
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult ToggleComplete(int index)
{
if (index >= 0 && index < _tasks.Count)
{
_tasks[index].IsCompleted = !_tasks[index].IsCompleted;
}
return RedirectToAction("Index");
}
}
public class TodoItem
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public bool IsCompleted { get; set; }
}View:
@model List<TodoItem>
<h3>Todo list</h3>
<ul id="taskList">
@for (int i = 0; i < Model.Count; i++)
{
<li>
<input type="checkbox" data-index="@i" class="toggle-complete" @(Model[i].IsCompleted ? "checked" : "") />
<span class="@(Model[i].IsCompleted ? "completed" : "")">@Model[i].Title</span>
<button data-index="@i" class="remove-task">Delete</button>
</li>
}
</ul>
<form asp-action="Add" method="post">
<input type="text" name="title" placeholder="New task" />
<button type="submit">Add</button>
</form>
@section Scripts {
<script>
$(function() {
$(".toggle-complete").click(function() {
var index = $(this).data("index");
$.post("/Todo/ToggleComplete", { index: index }, function() {
location.reload();
});
});
$(".remove-task").click(function() {
var index = $(this).data("index");
$.post("/Todo/Remove", { index: index }, function() {
location.reload();
});
});
});
</script>
}
<style>
.completed {
text-decoration: line-through;
}
</style>Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Solutions
Advantages of Blazor:
1. Unified programming language (C#) on both front end and back end
2. Reactive UI updates without writing JavaScript
3. Ability to share code between client and server
4. WebAssembly support enabling high performance
5. Easier integration with the .NET ecosystem
Disadvantages of Blazor:
1. Larger initial load size for Blazor WebAssembly
2. Smaller community and ecosystem compared to traditional frontend technologies
3. Limited SEO capabilities for Blazor WebAssembly (though Blazor Server and prerendering address this)
Advantages of ASP.NET Core MVC:
1. Proven and mature design pattern
2. Full control over generated HTML
3. Easy integration with existing JavaScript libraries
4. Strong SEO support
5. Smaller initial load size
Disadvantages of ASP.NET Core MVC:
1. Need to write JavaScript for client-side interactivity
2. Traditional request–response cycle can lead to slower UI responsiveness
3. More difficult to build Single Page Applications (SPAs)
Why Choose Blazor?
1. Unified technology stack: C# on both the front end and the back end
2. Performance: Especially with Blazor WebAssembly
3. Less code: Thanks to C# and .NET, achieving the same results often requires fewer lines of code
4. SPA application model: Ability to build modern SPA applications
5. No JavaScript required: You can build the entire application in C# without touching JavaScript
Summary
Both Blazor and ASP.NET Core MVC are powerful tools for building modern web applications in the .NET ecosystem. The choice between them often depends on the specifics of the project, the team’s experience, and personal preferences. Blazor stands out particularly in projects where a unified technology stack is desired and where the goal is to build highly interactive SPA applications without writing JavaScript. It’s an ideal solution for teams with strong .NET backgrounds. ASP.NET Core MVC remains a solid choice for traditional web applications, especially when full control over HTML and easy integration with existing JavaScript libraries are important.
If you want to dive deeper into Blazor and learn how to build efficient, interactive web applications, consider a specialized training program. I recommend Blazor School, my comprehensive online course that will help you master the technology from the basics to advanced techniques. It’s a great opportunity to expand your skills and become an expert in a field that is gaining increasing importance on the market. Whether you choose Blazor or ASP.NET Core MVC, the key is to keep growing and stay up to date with the latest trends in the world of .NET web development. Good luck with your projects!
