---
title: Add a controller to an ASP.NET Core MVC app
author: rick-anderson
description: Learn how to add a controller to a simple ASP.NET Core MVC app.
manager: wpickett
ms.author: riande
ms.date: 02/28/2017
ms.prod: asp.net-core
ms.technology: aspnet
ms.topic: get-started-article
uid: tutorials/first-mvc-app/adding-controller
---

# Add a controller to an ASP.NET Core MVC app

By [Rick Anderson](https://twitter.com/RickAndMSFT)

[!INCLUDE [adding-controller1](../../includes/mvc-intro/adding-controller1.md)]

* In **Solution Explorer**, right-click **Controllers > Add > New Item**

![Contextual menu](adding-controller/_static/add_controller.png)

* Select **Controller Class**
* In the **Add New Item** dialog, enter **HelloWorldController**.

![Add MVC controller and name it](adding-controller/_static/ac.png)

[!INCLUDE [adding-controller2](../../includes/mvc-intro/adding-controller2.md)]

In Visual Studio, in non-debug mode (Ctrl+F5), you don't need to build the app after changing  code. Just save the file, refresh your browser and you can see the changes.

> [!div class="step-by-step"]
> [Previous](start-mvc.md)
> [Next](adding-view.md)