ASP.NET Web API vs MVC
When we develop your web application, many developers get confused between ASP.NET Web API and ASP.NET MVC. They are confused about either use ASP.NET web API or MVC. This tutorials explains the differences between ASP.NET MVC and the ASP.NET Web API and will also explain when to use the Web API with the MVC.
ASP.NET Web API
ASP.NET Web API is a part of the ASP.NET framework and it is mostly designed for building lightweight, scalable, and data-oriented services that follow the rules of Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture. It is used for building HTTP services that can be consumed by a variety of clients such as browsers and mobile devices.
ASP.NET MVC
ASP.NET MVC is used for building server-side rendered web applications that respond to HTTP requests by returning HTML pages. The MVC pattern separates the application into three main components: the model (which represents the data and business logic), the view (which is responsible for rendering the HTML), and the controller (which handles user requests and interacts with the model). Overall, ASP.NET MVC is a framework that is used to build web applications, particularly those that require a high degree of interactivity, complex data processing or business logic.
When we combined the MVC with Web API
- When we do the self hosting on the application, in it we combine both the MVC controller and the API in a single project and it helps for managing the AJAX requests and returns the response in XML, JSON and other Formats.
- We combined the MVC and Web API for enabling the authorization for an application. In it we create two filters, one for the Web API and another for MVC.
This figure describes the combination of ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API.
Difference Between ASP.NET Web API and ASP.NET MVC
| S.No. | ASP.NET Web API | ASP.NET MVC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asp.Net Web API is used to create full-blown HTTP services with an easy and simple way that returns only data, not view. | Asp.Net MVC is used to create web applications that return both views and data. |
| 2 | Web API returns data in particular format like JSON, XML etc. | MVC only return data in JSON format using JsonResult. |
| 3 | In Web API the request is mapped to the actions based on HTTP verbs | MVC it is mapped to actions name. |
| 4 | Web API supports self-hosting with any ASP.NET application. | MVC Does not support self-hosting feature. |
| 5 | The model binding, filters, routing and others MVC features exist in Web API are different from MVC and exists in the new System.Web.Http assembly. | In MVC, these featues exist with in System.Web.Mvc. |
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