Which would be the right framework to be used ASP.NET MVC or ASP.NET Web API?

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If one intends to build a server component that can be easily utilized by an array of clients then ASP.NET Web API is the way to go. If, however, the project is purely going to be used as a web application, then ASP.NET MVC is a more appropriate choice.

The choice between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API depends on the specific requirements and goals of your project:

  1. ASP.NET MVC (Model-View-Controller):
    • Best suited for applications that require rich UI interactions and server-side rendering.
    • Ideal for applications where you need to manage complex user interactions, such as form submissions, user input validations, and page navigation.
    • Follows the MVC pattern, separating concerns into models, views, and controllers, which can lead to better code organization and maintainability.
    • Useful for building web applications where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a concern, as MVC supports server-side rendering for generating HTML.
  2. ASP.NET Web API:
    • Designed specifically for building HTTP services that can be consumed by various clients, including web browsers, mobile devices, and desktop applications.
    • Perfect for applications that require data to be exposed in a standardized format, such as JSON or XML, to be consumed by other applications or front-end frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.js.
    • Provides features like content negotiation, which allows clients to request data in different formats based on their preferences (e.g., JSON, XML).
    • Suitable for implementing RESTful APIs, where resources are exposed with URIs and standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) are used to perform CRUD operations.

Ultimately, if your application primarily focuses on delivering dynamic web pages with server-side rendering and complex user interactions, ASP.NET MVC may be the better choice. On the other hand, if your main goal is to expose data and functionality through a web API to be consumed by various clients, then ASP.NET Web API would be the more appropriate framework. Additionally, in modern ASP.NET development, you can also consider ASP.NET Core MVC and ASP.NET Core Web API, which are newer versions of these frameworks with enhanced features and cross-platform support.