ASP.NET facts for kids
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release | January 5, 2002 |
| Stable release |
4.8.1 / August 9, 2022
|
| Written in | .NET languages |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS |
| Platform | .NET Framework |
| Type | Web framework |
| License | Proprietary software |
| Filename extension | .aspx, .cshtml, .vbhtml |
|---|---|
| Internet media type |
text/html
|
| Developed by | Microsoft |
ASP.NET is a special tool made by Microsoft that helps build websites. It's a "web-application framework," which means it provides a structure and tools for creating dynamic web pages. Dynamic pages are ones that can change based on what you do, like showing different content to different users.
The name ASP.NET stands for Active Server Pages Network Enabled Technologies. It was first released in January 2002. It was an improved version of Microsoft's older technology called Active Server Pages (ASP).
ASP.NET lets programmers use different computer languages to build websites, applications, and online services. In 2016, Microsoft released ASP.NET Core, which is a newer, more flexible version of ASP.NET. It's also open-source, meaning its code can be seen and changed by anyone.
Contents
How ASP.NET Works
ASP.NET helps create websites by offering different ways, or "models," to build them. Think of these as different sets of building blocks for your web project.
Building Web Pages
- ASP.NET Web Forms: This model helps build web pages using ready-made parts called components. It's like snapping together LEGO bricks to make a page. This works best on Windows computers.
- ASP.NET MVC: This method helps organize web pages using a pattern called Model-View-Controller. It separates the data (Model), the look of the page (View), and how it works (Controller). This makes big projects easier to manage.
- ASP.NET Web Pages: This is a simpler way to add changing content and data directly into your website's HTML code. It's good for quick and easy dynamic pages.
Creating Online Services
- ASP.NET Web API: This tool helps create "Web APIs." These are like special messengers that let different computer programs talk to each other over the internet.
- ASP.NET WebHooks: This helps set up automatic messages (called webhooks) that get sent when something specific happens, like a new user signing up.
- SignalR: This is a cool tool for "real-time" communication. It allows your website to instantly send and receive messages between the server and the user's browser. Think of live chat or online games.
Extra Tools for ASP.NET
- ASP.NET AJAX: This adds "Ajax" features to web pages. Ajax helps parts of a web page update without reloading the whole page. This makes websites feel faster and smoother.
- ASP.NET Dynamic Data: This extension helps quickly build websites that work with lots of data, like online databases.
How ASP.NET Connects to the Internet
ASP.NET often works with a program called Internet Information Services (IIS). IIS is a web server software that helps deliver web pages to people who request them. When ASP.NET and IIS work together, they can handle many requests efficiently.
Other Ways to Use ASP.NET
While Microsoft provides standard ways to use ASP.NET, other companies and developers have also created their own tools and frameworks that work with it. These can offer different features or make certain tasks easier.
- DotNetNuke: This is an open-source tool that helps build websites and manage their content. It's very flexible and lets you add many different features.
ASP.NET Versions Over Time
ASP.NET has been updated many times since it first came out. Each new version usually adds new features and makes the system better. Here are some key updates:
| Date | Version | What's New | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 16, 2002 | 1.0 | This was the very first version. It allowed developers to build web applications using modern programming ideas like object-oriented programming. | |
| April 24, 2003 | 1.1 | This version added features for mobile devices and automatic checks for user input. | |
| November 7, 2005 | 2.0 | A big update! It added new controls for showing data, tools for website navigation, and "Master Pages" which help keep a consistent look across many pages. It also improved security and performance. | |
| November 21, 2006 | 3.0 | This version included new ways to build desktop applications (WPF) and connect different software parts (WCF). | |
| November 19, 2007 | 3.5 | This update included ASP.NET AJAX, which makes websites feel more interactive. It also added new ways to work with data. | |
| August 11, 2008 | 3.5 Service Pack 1 | This improved ASP.NET AJAX and made it easier to combine JavaScript files for faster loading. | |
| April 12, 2010 | 4.0 | This version added new properties to web pages to help with search engine optimization (SEO). | |
| August 15, 2012 | 4.5 | This version brought many general improvements to how the .NET Framework works. | |
| October 17, 2013 | 4.5.1 | This update included Bootstrap for making websites look good on different devices. It also improved Web API and MVC tools. | |
| May 5, 2014 | 4.5.2 | This version improved how HTTP requests are handled and allowed for better background tasks. | |
| July 20, 2015 | 4.6 | This version added support for HTTP/2, a newer, faster way for web browsers and servers to communicate. | |
| August 2, 2016 | 4.6.2 | This version improved how asynchronous tasks (tasks that run in the background) are handled. | |
| April 11, 2017 | 4.7 | This version improved support for secure communication protocols (TLS). | |
| October 17, 2017 | 4.7.1 | This update focused on making websites more accessible for everyone and improving security. | |
| April 30, 2018 | 4.7.2 | ||
| August 09, 2022 | 4.8.1 | This is one of the most recent updates, bringing various performance and accessibility improvements. | |
| November 18, 2015 | 5 RC1 | This version later became a completely new project called ASP.NET Core. | |
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Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release
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Other Ways to Run ASP.NET
Besides Microsoft's official tools, there's a project called Mono that lets you run ASP.NET applications on different operating systems like Linux and macOS. This means websites built with ASP.NET can work on more types of computers.
See also
In Spanish: ASP.NET para niños
- ELMAH (Error Logging Modules and Handlers), an ASP.NET debugging tool
