ASP.Net MVC vs ASP.Net Core

Introduction

ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core (previously known as ASP.NET 5) are both web application frameworks developed by Microsoft, but they have some fundamental differences in architecture, cross-platform support, performance, and other aspects. Here's an overview of the key differences between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core:

ASP.NET MVC

1. Framework: ASP.NET MVC is part of the ASP.NET framework and is built on the .NET Framework, which is Windows-dependent.

2. Cross-Platform Support: ASP.NET MVC is primarily designed for Windows environments and does not have native cross-platform support.

3. Dependency on IIS: ASP.NET MVC applications typically require Internet Information Services (IIS) for hosting on Windows servers.

4. Performance: While ASP.NET MVC is performant and mature, it may not match the level of performance optimization and speed achieved by ASP.NET Core.

5. .NET Framework Dependency: ASP.NET MVC applications rely on the .NET Framework, which has been succeeded by .NET Core and later .NET.

ASP.NET Core

1. Framework: ASP.NET Core is a new and modular framework that's cross-platform and open-source. It's not an evolution of ASP.NET MVC but a new framework built from scratch.

2. Cross-Platform Support: ASP.NET Core is designed to be cross-platform, supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS. It's not tied to a specific operating system.

3. Modularity and Flexibility: ASP.NET Core is modular, allowing developers to include only the required components in the application, reducing overhead and increasing performance.

4. Performance: ASP.NET Core is known for its improved performance, high-speed processing, and efficient memory usage compared to ASP.NET MVC.

5. Dependency Injection: ASP.NET Core provides built-in support for dependency injection, enabling better control over application dependencies and making the code more testable.

6. Unified Framework: ASP.NET Core unifies the MVC, Web API, and Web Pages into a single framework, providing a unified programming model for building web applications and services.

7. Support for Newer .NET Versions: ASP.NET Core supports the latest versions of .NET, including .NET 5, and later, bringing in new features, performance improvements, and language enhancements.

When choosing between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core, consider factors like platform independence, performance requirements, modularity, and the specific needs of your application. ASP.NET Core is often favored for its cross-platform support, improved performance, and modern development capabilities, especially for building cloud-native and high-performance web applications.