ASP.
NET MVC Framework Overview
What is ASP.NET MVC?
ASP.NET MVC is a web application framework developed by Microsoft. Its based on the
Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern and is part of the broader ASP.NET ecosystem.
- ASP.NET = Framework for building web apps on the .NET platform.
- MVC = Architectural pattern that separates the app into:
Model Handles data & business logic
View Handles UI
Controller Handles user input & connects model to view
"Separation of concerns" is the motto. Clean. Organized. Scalable.
Why Use ASP.NET MVC?
- Clean architecture
- Full control over HTML & URL routing
- Easier unit testing (controllers can be tested independently)
- Great for REST APIs and dynamic web apps
Perfect for devs who want structure without being locked into Web Forms spaghetti.
Core Components
Model Business logic, data access (EF, LINQ, SQL)
View Razor templates (.cshtml files)
Controller C# classes with action methods
Folder Structure
/Controllers All controllers (.cs files)
/Models Entity & ViewModels
/Views Razor UI (.cshtml)
/Views/Shared Layouts & shared views
/App_Start RouteConfig, FilterConfig, etc.
ASP.NET MVC Framework Overview
Routing Example (App_Start/RouteConfig.cs)
routes.MapRoute(
name: "Default",
url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
defaults: new { controller = "Home", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
);
Quick Controller Example
public class HomeController : Controller
public ActionResult Index()
return View(); // Returns Views/Home/Index.cshtml
Razor View Syntax (Index.cshtml)
@model YourApp.Models.YourModel
<h1>Hello @Model.Name!</h1>
Common Tools & Integrations
- Entity Framework (EF)
- Identity
- Dependency Injection
- NuGet
Performance / Time Complexity (High-level)
Routing O(1) to O(n)
Controller Dispatch O(1)
View Rendering O(n) (n = UI elements/data rows)
DB Query via EF Depends on LINQ/SQL query (O(1) to O(n))
ASP.NET MVC Framework Overview
Downsides
- Bit heavier than minimal APIs
- Not ideal for microservices
- Razor syntax has learning curve
- More boilerplate than some JS frameworks
ASP.NET MVC vs ASP.NET Core MVC
Feature | ASP.NET MVC | ASP.NET Core MVC
--------------------|--------------------|--------------------
Platform | Windows only | Cross-platform
Performance | Lower | Higher
Modular | Less modular | Highly modular
Middleware Support | Basic | Advanced
Modern Dev Features | Limited | Cutting-edge
Final Thoughts
ASP.NET MVC is battle-tested and enterprise-proven. If youre working with legacy systems or
Windows-based enterprise apps, it still rocks.
But for greenfield projects or 2025+ dev work? ASP.NET Core MVC is where the real flex is.