Getting Started with ASP.NET MVC

Introduction

ASP.NET MVC is a web application framework developed by Microsoft for building dynamic, data-driven web applications. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which separates an application into three interconnected components, making it easier to manage and scale. In this guide, we'll walk you through the basics of getting started with ASP.NET MVC, including key concepts and sample code to help you begin your web development journey.

Prerequisites

Before you dive into ASP.NET MVC development, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

Visual Studio (or Visual Studio Code) installed on your computer. You can download the Community edition for free.
The .NET Framework or .NET Core SDK, depending on the version of ASP.NET you want to use.
A basic understanding of C# programming and web development concepts.

Understanding ASP.NET MVC

ASP.NET MVC is based on the MVC architectural pattern, which divides the application into the following components:

Model: Represents the data and business logic of the application.
View: Represents the user interface and presentation logic.
Controller: Acts as an intermediary between the Model and the View, handling user input and coordinating the application's response.

Sample ASP.NET MVC Code

Below is a simplified example of ASP.NET MVC code that demonstrates the creation of a basic web application with a "Hello, ASP.NET MVC!" message.

ASP.NET MVC Code (HomeController.cs):

using System;
using System.Web.Mvc;
namespace HelloWorld.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            ViewBag.Message = "Hello, ASP.NET MVC!";
            return View();
        }
    }
}

ASP.NET MVC View (Index.cshtml):

@{
    ViewBag.Title = "Home Page";
}
<h2>@ViewBag.Message</h2>