If you’re seeking a straightforward way to build dynamic web pages with ASP.NET Core, Razor Pages might be your ideal solution. Offering simplicity and ease of use, Razor Pages streamline the development process by combining both logic and presentation into a single file. In this guide, we’ll delve into the fundamentals of Razor Pages, illustrating their simplicity and effectiveness for web development.
Understanding Razor Pages
Razor Pages, introduced in ASP.NET Core, offer a lightweight alternative to the more traditional MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern. While MVC separates concerns into controllers and views, Razor Pages consolidate both into a single file. This design philosophy simplifies the creation of dynamic web pages by minimizing setup requirements and reducing boilerplate code.
To embark on your journey with Razor Pages, the first step is creating a new ASP.NET Core project. This can be accomplished through Visual Studio or via the command-line interface. Upon project creation, navigate to the Pages directory, designated for housing all Razor Pages within your application.
Creating First Razor Page
Let’s initiate our exploration of Razor Pages by crafting your inaugural page – Index.cshtml. Begin by adding a new Razor Page file with the .cshtml extension to the Pages directory. Within this file, blend HTML markup with Razor syntax to define your page’s content.
@page
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>My First Razor Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Welcome to Razor Pages!</h1>
<p>This is my first Razor Page.</p>
</body>
</html>
Adding Functionality with Page Handlers
The functionality of Razor Pages is driven by page handlers, methods residing within a code-behind file (.cshtml.cs). These handlers correspond to various HTTP verbs, such as OnGet() for handling GET requests and OnPost() for POST requests.
public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
private readonly ApplicationDbContext _context;
public IndexModel(ApplicationDbContext context)
{
_context = context;
}
public IList<Item> Items { get; set; }
public void OnGet()
{
Items = _context.Items.ToList();
}
}
Routing and Navigation
Razor Pages employ a convention-based routing system, mirroring the URL structure of your application to the folder hierarchy within the Pages directory. Consequently, a Razor Page located at Pages/Products/Index.cshtml would be accessible via the /Products URL.
Conclusion
In essence, Razor Pages in ASP.NET Core provide an intuitive and efficient approach to crafting dynamic web pages. By consolidating logic and presentation into a single file and leveraging features like convention-based routing and page handlers, Razor Pages empower developers to build robust web applications with minimal overhead. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned developer, Razor Pages offer a versatile and user-friendly framework for your web development endeavors.
Additional References
- https://andrewlock.net/an-introduction-to-asp-net-core-razor-pages/#:~:text=Razor%20pages%20is%20a%20new%20aspect%20of%20ASP.NET,coexist%20with%20%22traditional%22%20MVC%20or%20Web%20API%20controllers.
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/razor-pages/?view=aspnetcore-8.0&tabs=visual-studio\
- https://athen.tech/an-introduction-to-mvc-building-web-applications-made-easy/