What is Blazor?
Blazor is a modern web framework developed by Microsoft that allows developers to build interactive web applications using C# and .NET instead of JavaScript. It supports two hosting models.
- Blazor Server: The app runs on the server, and UI updates are sent via SignalR.
- Blazor WebAssembly (WASM): The app runs in the browser using WebAssembly, enabling a fully client-side experience.
Blazor provides a component-based architecture similar to React or Angular, but developers write everything in C# instead of JavaScript.
How does Blazor differ from Traditional ASP.NET (MVC/WebForms)?
| Feature |
Blazor |
ASP.NET MVC |
ASP.NET WebForms |
| Language |
C# (Frontend & Backend) |
C# (Backend) + JavaScript |
C# (Backend) + JavaScript |
| UI Approach |
Component-based UI |
Razor Views (MVC-based) |
Page & Control-based UI |
| Rendering |
Client-side (WebAssembly) or Server-side (SignalR) |
Server-side |
Server-side |
| State Management |
Built-in state management (via Cascading Parameters, Dependency Injection, etc.) |
Requires TempData, ViewData, Session |
ViewState, Session, Cache |
| JavaScript Dependency |
Minimal (only when needed via JSInterop) |
High (for AJAX, interactivity) |
High (PostBacks & JavaScript) |
| Performance |
Faster for real-time apps (Blazor Server) & fully offline support (Blazor WebAssembly) |
Requires page reloads & API calls for interactivity |
ViewState-heavy, causing performance issues |
| Modern Development |
Uses Razor components, dependency injection, and WebAssembly |
Follows the MVC pattern but relies on JavaScript for interactivity |
Uses PostBacks and ViewState, which are outdated |
| Mobile-Friendly |
Better support for responsive UI |
Needs additional frameworks like Bootstrap |
Less mobile-friendly (due to ViewState) |
Key Advantages of Blazor Over Traditional ASP.NET
- Full-Stack C# Development: No need for JavaScript frameworks like Angular or React.
- Component-Based Architecture: Reusable UI components make development more modular.
- WebAssembly Support: Allows running .NET code directly in the browser without plugins.
- Real-Time Updates with SignalR: Ideal for chat apps, dashboards, and live data updates.
- Better State Management: Blazor provides built-in support for stateful applications.
When to Use Blazor?
- If you're building a modern single-page application (SPA).
- If you prefer writing C# over JavaScript for the front end.
- If you need real-time updates (Blazor Server) or offline capabilities (Blazor WebAssembly).