81 lines
5.6 KiB
Markdown
81 lines
5.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Introduction to ASP.NET Core
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author: rick-anderson
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description: Get an introduction to ASP.NET Core, a cross-platform, high-performance, open-source framework for building modern, cloud-based, Internet-connected applications.
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manager: wpickett
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ms.author: riande
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ms.date: 02/28/2018
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ms.prod: asp.net-core
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ms.technology: aspnet
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ms.topic: article
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uid: index
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---
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# Introduction to ASP.NET Core
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By [Daniel Roth](https://github.com/danroth27), [Rick Anderson](https://twitter.com/RickAndMSFT), and [Shaun Luttin](https://twitter.com/dicshaunary)
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ASP.NET Core is a cross-platform, high-performance, [open-source](https://github.com/aspnet/home) framework for building modern, cloud-based, Internet-connected applications. With ASP.NET Core, you can:
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* Build web apps and services, [IoT](https://www.microsoft.com/internet-of-things/) apps, and mobile backends.
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* Use your favorite development tools on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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* Deploy to the cloud or on-premises.
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* Run on [.NET Core or .NET Framework](https://docs.microsoft.com/dotnet/articles/standard/choosing-core-framework-server).
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## Why use ASP.NET Core?
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Millions of developers have used (and continue to use) [ASP.NET 4.x](https://docs.microsoft.com/aspnet/overview) to create web apps. ASP.NET Core is a redesign of ASP.NET 4.x, with architectural changes that result in a leaner, more modular framework.
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ASP.NET Core provides the following benefits:
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* A unified story for building web UI and web APIs.
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* Integration of [modern, client-side frameworks](xref:client-side/index) and development workflows.
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* A cloud-ready, environment-based [configuration system](xref:fundamentals/configuration/index).
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* Built-in [dependency injection](xref:fundamentals/dependency-injection).
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* A lightweight, [high-performance](https://github.com/aspnet/benchmarks), and modular HTTP request pipeline.
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* Ability to host on [IIS](xref:host-and-deploy/iis/index), [Nginx](xref:host-and-deploy/linux-nginx), [Apache](xref:host-and-deploy/linux-apache), [Docker](xref:host-and-deploy/docker/index), or self-host in your own process.
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* Side-by-side app versioning when targeting [.NET Core](https://docs.microsoft.com/dotnet/articles/standard/choosing-core-framework-server).
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* Tooling that simplifies modern web development.
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* Ability to build and run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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* Open-source and [community-focused](https://live.asp.net/).
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ASP.NET Core ships entirely as [NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/) packages. Using NuGet packages allows you to optimize your app to include only the necessary dependencies. In fact, ASP.NET Core 2.x apps targeting .NET Core only require a [single NuGet package](xref:fundamentals/metapackage). The benefits of a smaller app surface area include tighter security, reduced servicing, and improved performance.
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## Build web APIs and web UI using ASP.NET Core MVC
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ASP.NET Core MVC provides features to build [web APIs](xref:tutorials/index#build-web-apis) and [web apps](xref:tutorials/index#build-web-apps):
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* The [Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern](xref:mvc/overview) helps make your web APIs and web apps [testable](testing/index.md).
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* [Razor Pages](xref:mvc/razor-pages/index) (new in ASP.NET Core 2.0) is a page-based programming model that makes building web UI easier and more productive.
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* [Razor markup](xref:mvc/views/razor) provides a productive syntax for [Razor Pages](xref:mvc/razor-pages/index) and [MVC views](xref:mvc/views/overview).
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* [Tag Helpers](xref:mvc/views/tag-helpers/intro) enable server-side code to participate in creating and rendering HTML elements in Razor files.
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* Built-in support for [multiple data formats and content negotiation](xref:web-api/advanced/formatting) lets your web APIs reach a broad range of clients, including browsers and mobile devices.
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* [Model binding](xref:mvc/models/model-binding) automatically maps data from HTTP requests to action method parameters.
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* [Model validation](xref:mvc/models/validation) automatically performs client- and server-side validation.
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## Client-side development
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ASP.NET Core integrates seamlessly with popular client-side frameworks and libraries, including [Angular](xref:spa/angular), [React](xref:spa/react), and [Bootstrap](xref:client-side/bootstrap). For more information, see [Client-side development](xref:client-side/index).
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## ASP.NET Core targeting .NET Framework
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ASP.NET Core can target .NET Core or .NET Framework. ASP.NET Core apps targeting .NET Framework aren't cross-platform—they run on Windows only. There are no plans to remove support for targeting .NET Framework in ASP.NET Core. Generally, ASP.NET Core is made up of [.NET Standard](/dotnet/standard/net-standard) libraries. Apps written with .NET Standard 2.0 run anywhere that .NET Standard 2.0 is supported.
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There are several advantages to targeting .NET Core, and these advantages increase with each release. Some advantages of .NET Core over .NET Framework include:
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* Cross-platform. Runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
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* Improved performance
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* Side-by-side versioning
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* New APIs
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* Open source
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We're working hard to close the API gap from .NET Framework to .NET Core. The [Windows Compatibility Pack](/dotnet/core/porting/windows-compat-pack) made thousands of Windows-only APIs available in .NET Core. These APIs weren't available in .NET Core 1.x.
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## Next steps
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For more information, see the following resources:
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* [Get started with Razor Pages](xref:tutorials/razor-pages/razor-pages-start)
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* [ASP.NET Core tutorials](xref:tutorials/index)
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* [ASP.NET Core fundamentals](xref:fundamentals/index)
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* [The weekly ASP.NET community standup](https://live.asp.net/) covers the team's progress and plans. It features new blogs and third-party software.
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