What is the difference between Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect?

These are used to redirect a user from one web page to the other one. The Response.Redirect method requests a new URL and specifies the new URL. The Server.Transfer method terminates the execution of the current page and starts the execution of a new page.

In a .NET interview, if you’re asked about the difference between Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect, you can explain as follows:

  1. Server.Transfer:
    • It transfers the control directly to the target page from the server without the client knowing about it.
    • The URL in the browser remains the same, meaning the client is unaware of the actual page being processed.
    • It’s an efficient way to transfer control if the target page is located on the same server.
    • It only supports transferring control to an ASP.NET page.
  2. Response.Redirect:
    • It sends an HTTP redirect response to the client’s browser, telling it to request a different URL.
    • The client’s browser then makes a new request to the redirected URL, so the URL in the browser changes.
    • It’s useful when you want the client to be aware of the new URL and when you need to redirect to pages outside the current application or server.
    • It supports redirecting to any URL, not just ASP.NET pages.

In summary, the key difference lies in how the transfer of control is handled and whether the client’s browser is made aware of the redirection. Server.Transfer handles the transfer internally on the server side without changing the URL in the browser, while Response.Redirect instructs the client’s browser to make a new request to the specified URL, resulting in a visible change in the URL.