Why use Blazor to Build Web Applications in ASP.NET

What is Blazor?

Blazor is an open-source and newly launched ASP.Net framework that helps develop an interactive client-side web-based application. In this article, we will understand its features and concept about Blazor which will be useful for developers who have skills in ASP.Net, C#, UI development, and custom software development.

Why we should use Blazor to build Web applications in ASP.NET

Blazor is a .net framework that provides plenty of interactive features to develop client-side web UI applications.

To build a web-based application UI developers must know the two mechanisms for the development which are Server-side and client-side.

Server-side development is used to develop back-side programming languages Example:

C#, PHP, and JAVA.

Client-side development is mainly used for client-side Javascript which can be used with Angular,  React, Bootstrap, etc.

To be a successful ASP. Net Core, UI Development, and ASP.Net Development should have expertise in Angular, and React client scripts.

Blazor can run instantly in the browser through WebAssembly. We do not need to use browser plugins.

Blazor apps can run on the server side in .NET and manage all user interactions over a real-time connection on the browser.

Blazor has excellent tooling support in Visual Studio and contains robust UI component model and includes built-in facilities using the below:

• UI Layouts
• In-built browser debugging
• JavaScript interop
• Forms and validation
• Dependency injection
• Client-side routing

Blazor provides event-driven, component-based, and stateful UI programming standards.

Blazor can execute on the client in the browser and it is a realistic solution for ASP.NET UI developers.

Components

Blazor apps are founded on components. A component in Blazor is characteristic of UI, using a page, dialog box, or a web form with a log-in or data entry feature.

Components are .NET C# classes produced into .NET assemblies that:

• Describe adaptable UI rendering logic.
• Manage user events.
• Reused.
• Distributed and shared as Razor  NuGet packages and class libraries.
• The component class is written with a Razor markup page using a .razor file extension.
• Components in Blazor generates as Razor components, can also be considered as Blazor components.
• Razor is a syntax for integrating HTML markup with C# code invented for developer productivity.
•  Razor allows developers to switch between HTML markup and C# in the same file with the help IntelliSense programming feature in Visual Studio.

ASP.NET Core Blazor Hosting Models

The Blazor has two hosting models.

Blazor WebAssembly:

• It is a client-side hosting model and it can be used to execute .Net applications in a web browser.

• Blazor WebAssembly is a single-page app framework that can be used to develop an interactive client-side web app with a .NET framework.  WebAssembly runs the .NET code within the web browser. 

• WebAssembly is a compact bytecode format optimized and allows a quicker download with high-performance speed. 

• It is an open web standard and compatible with all modern web browsers and mobile browsers without plugins.

• The code written in WebAssembly can access the complete functionality of web browsers with Javascript interoperability that can be considered as JS interop.

• NET code managed via WebAssembly in the browser that operates the browser's JavaScript sandbox using with security mechanism and protects it from vicious activities on the client machine.
• Blazor WebAssembly app is created and run
  • Using razor and C# code files are compiled with .NET assemblies.
  • We can directly download assemblies and .NET runtime to the browser.
  • Blazor WebAssembly bootstraps the .NET runtime and configures the runtime to load the assemblies for the app.
  • The Blazor WebAssembly runtime utilizes JavaScript interop to manage Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation and browser API calls.

Blazor Server

Blazor Server has the capability for hosting Razor components on the server within the ASP.NET Core app. Using the SingalR connection we can handle UI updates.

The runtime remains on the server and operates via:

• Running the app's C# code.
• Transmitting UI events from the browser to the server.
• Involving UI updates to a generated component they are sent back by the server.
• The connection operated by Blazor Server to intercommunicate with the browser is also utilized to handle JavaScript interop calls.

Blazor Server apps generate content differently than traditional models for rendering UI in ASP.NET Core apps with Razor views/Pages.

Razor Page or view generates each line of Razor code articulates HTML in text format. After generating, the server disposes of the page or view instance with the state in which it was produced. And if at the same point, another request for the page occurs and then

the full page is rerendered to HTML again and sent to the client.

In the server-side hosting model (Blazor Server-Side), Blazor is performed on the server from within an ASP.NET Core app.

Using SignalR connection helps to UI updates and provides event handling.

Blazor Hybrid

Hybrid apps operate as a combination of native and web-based technologies.

A Blazor Hybrid app utilizes Blazor in a native client app.

Razor components execute natively in the .NET function and generate web UI to an embedded Web View control with a local interop channel.  Hybrid apps contain the following technologies:

Windows Forms: A UI framework that builds rich desktop client apps for Windows-based applications.

The Windows Forms development platform helps a comprehensive collection of app development features with controls, graphics, user input, and data binding.

.NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI): A cross-platform framework for developing native mobile and desktop apps using C# and XAML languages.

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF):  This is a modern UI Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) that helps to develop desktop or Windows-based client applications. It supports a wide range of application development components, such as application models, controls, UI layout, security, data binding, documents, resources, and graphics.

JavaScript interop

To develop interactive applications we need third-party JavaScript libraries and access to web browser APIs, components with the capabilities of JavaScript.

With the components, we can use any library or API with the help of JavaScript.

C# code can be utilized with JavaScript code, and JavaScript code can be utilized with C# code.

Code sharing and .NET Standard

Blazor executes the .NET Standard, which allows Blazor projects to take reference these libraries that can be consumed to .NET Standard specifications.

.NET Standard is a standard specification of .NET APIs that are shared across .NET implementations.

.NET Standard class libraries can be shared across various .NET platforms:

Examples: Blazor, .NET Framework, .NET Core, Unity, Mono, Xamarin.

JavaScript interop Use case and Benefits of Blazor

Blazor is a universal and robust web development framework solution entrusted by the top .NET Development Company in India. Below are the various types of use cases of Blazor that can be beneficial to develop robust web solutions.

• Single-page applications (SPAs): Blazor can build interactive client-side-based SPA applications with less JavaScript code.
• Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): Blazor’s support for WebAssembly allows developers to make PWAs and allows them to develop a responsive, fast, and work offline.
• Cross-platform desktop applications: Blazor is compatible with .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) to create cross-platform desktop applications for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
• Real-time applications: Blazor provides the capability of SignalR for building real-time applications.
• Line-of-business (LOB) applications: Blazor’s with ASP.NET makes it effortless to build LOB applications and provides the ability to integrate with existing .NET applications and APIs.

Conclusion

We hope that this post has defined the Blazor idea in ASP.net and the reasons for using Blazor when developing Web apps in ASP. We explored in-depth the notion of Blazor's features and capabilities, as well as its applications in.net, ASP.net, and ASP.net core-based applications. It enhances the robustness, responsiveness, flexibility, and interactivity of your ASP.Net apps, making it beneficial for application designers, experienced developers with.net experience, and anyone who want to learn about Microsoft.Net using C#. iQlance offers more helpful posts like this one. We are a Canadian company that creates customized software and solutions. Are you ready to improve your ASP.NET experience with Blazor? Contact us today to begin a breakthrough journey towards exceptional digital innovation!