DEV Community

Cover image for Which C# .NET Frameworks Are Available to Build Web Applications?
Mohammed Chami
Mohammed Chami

Posted on • Edited on

Which C# .NET Frameworks Are Available to Build Web Applications?

Peace

There are several C# frameworks available for building web applications, each offering unique features and capabilities. Below is a list of some of the most popular ones:

  1. ASP.NET Core: A cross-platform, high-performance framework for building modern web applications and APIs. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, is open-source, and is the successor to ASP.NET MVC. It supports C# and other .NET languages and is widely used for building scalable and high-performance applications.

  2. ASP.NET MVC: A framework for building web applications using the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern. While still in use, it has largely been superseded by ASP.NET Core for new projects. It is a good choice for maintaining legacy applications or projects that require its specific features.

  3. NancyFX: A lightweight, open-source framework for building HTTP-based services and web applications in C#. It is known for its simplicity and modularity but has seen reduced adoption in recent years due to the rise of ASP.NET Core.

  4. ServiceStack: An open-source framework for building high-performance web services and APIs in C#. It is designed to be fast and developer-friendly, with a focus on simplicity and performance. However, it is not as widely adopted as ASP.NET Core for general web application development.

  5. DotNetty: A high-performance networking library for building server applications in C#. It is not a web framework but rather a tool for building custom networking solutions, such as TCP/UDP servers or clients.

  6. SignalR: A library for adding real-time functionality to web applications. It simplifies bidirectional communication between the server and clients using WebSockets, Server-Sent Events (SSE), or long polling. It is often used with ASP.NET Core for real-time features like chat applications or live updates.

  7. Orchard Core: An open-source CMS (Content Management System) framework built on top of ASP.NET Core. It provides a modular and extensible platform for building websites and web applications, with features for managing content, users, and workflows. It is a good choice for developers who need a CMS-based solution.

  8. Blazor: A web framework for building interactive client-side web applications using C# and .NET. Blazor allows developers to write C# code that runs in the browser using WebAssembly (Blazor WebAssembly) or on the server (Blazor Server). It is ideal for developers who want to use C# instead of JavaScript for front-end development.

  9. Entity Framework Core: A popular object-relational mapping (ORM) framework for .NET. It simplifies database interactions by allowing developers to work with databases using C# objects. While not a web framework itself, it is commonly used alongside ASP.NET Core for data access in web applications.

  10. Dapper: A lightweight and fast micro-ORM for .NET. It is designed for performance and provides a simple way to execute SQL queries and map results to C# objects. It is often used in scenarios where raw SQL performance is critical, but it is not a full-fledged ORM like Entity Framework Core.

  11. GraphQL.NET: A framework for building GraphQL APIs in .NET. It provides tools for defining GraphQL schemas and resolvers, making it easier to build APIs that follow the GraphQL specification. It is a good choice for developers who want to implement GraphQL in their .NET applications.

  12. IdentityServer: A framework for implementing OAuth2 and OpenID Connect authentication and authorization in .NET applications. It is widely used for securing APIs and web applications, providing features like single sign-on (SSO), social login, and multi-factor authentication.

  13. Hangfire: A library for background job processing and scheduling in .NET applications. It is not a web framework but is often used in web applications to handle tasks like sending emails, processing data, or running periodic jobs.

Thanks for reading 🥇💪

Sentry image

See why 4M developers consider Sentry, “not bad.”

Fixing code doesn’t have to be the worst part of your day. Learn how Sentry can help.

Learn more

Top comments (0)

Cloudinary image

Video API: manage, encode, and optimize for any device, channel or network condition. Deliver branded video experiences in minutes and get deep engagement insights.

Learn more

👋 Kindness is contagious

Immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge with this piece, supported by the inclusive DEV Community—every developer, no matter where they are in their journey, is invited to contribute to our collective wisdom.

A simple “thank you” goes a long way—express your gratitude below in the comments!

Gathering insights enriches our journey on DEV and fortifies our community ties. Did you find this article valuable? Taking a moment to thank the author can have a significant impact.

Okay