I sometimes see ASP.NET apps that include ASHX files. What are ASHX files?

ASHX files contain HTTP handlers-software modules that handle raw HTTP requests received by ASP.NET. The following code institutes a simple HTTP handler:


	<%@ WebHandler Language="C#" Class="Hello"%> using System.Web; public class Hello : IHttpHandler { public void ProcessRequest (HttpContext context) { string name = context.Request["Name"]; context.Response.Write ("Hello, " name); } public bool IsReusable { get { return true; } } }

If this code is placed in an ASHX file named Hello.ashx and requested using the URL http://.../hello.ashx?Name=Jeff, it returns "Hello, Jeff" in the HTTP response. ASHX files provide developers with a convenient way to deploy HTTP handlers without customizing CONFIG files or modifying the IIS metabase.

I sometimes see ASP.NET apps that include ASHX files. What are ASHX files?

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