ASP.NET vs ASP.NET Core: Key Differences

ASP.NET vs. ASP.NET Core, even wondered what’s the outcome of this ASP.NET framework comparison?

ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core are both frameworks developed by Microsoft for building web applications, but they have significant differences in architecture, performance and flexibility.

ASP.NET, first released in 2002, is a mature and stable framework that runs on the .NET Framework, primarily on Windows. It includes well-established technologies like Web Forms, MVC (Model-View-Controller) and Web API, offering a comprehensive environment for developing enterprise-level applications. However, it works best with the Windows OS and has limitations in terms of cross-platform support and performance optimization.

What is the difference between ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core?

We can say that ASP.NET Core is the ASP.NET evolution. Introduced in 2016, it represents a reimagined version of ASP.NET designed to address modern development needs.

Built from the ground up to being cross-platform, one of the main ASP.NET Core benefits is that it can run on Windows, macOS and Linux, giving developers greater flexibility in deployment.

The framework has a modular architecture, allowing developers to include only the ASP.NET Core components they need, resulting in leaner and more efficient applications.

Furthermore, ASP.NET Core features a unification of MVC and Web API development models into a single framework, simplifying the development process and code management. It also supports modern development practices like dependency injection, built-in support for cloud-based application development and seamless integration with popular client-side frameworks and tools.

These ASP.NET Core features make it a versatile and powerful choice for developing modern-looking web applications that can meet the demands of today's dynamic digital landscape.

How do ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core compare in terms of performance?

Performance-wise ASP.NET Core offers superior performance vs. ASP.NET due to its modern architecture, optimized web server and cross-platform capabilities.

These enhancements along with the advanced security features and cloud readiness make ASP.NET Core a better choice for building high-performance web applications or migrating from the older ASP.NET framework to ASP.NET Core.