What is ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core is an open-source, cross-platform framework for building

modern, cloud-based, and internet-connected applications, including web
applications, APIs, and microservices. It is a significant redesign of
ASP.NET, providing a modular and high-performance framework that is
optimized for developer productivity.

How does ASP.NET Core differ from previous versions of ASP.NET?

ASP.NET Core differs from previous versions primarily in terms of its
architecture, cross-platform support, performance improvements, and
modularity. It is designed to be lightweight, modular, and highly
extensible, making it suitable for various applications and deployment
scenarios.

Explain the concept of Middleware in ASP.NET Core.

Middleware in ASP.NET Core is software components that are used to
handle requests and responses in the request processing pipeline. Each
middleware component in the pipeline can inspect, modify, or terminate
the request or response as it flows through the pipeline, allowing
developers to add custom logic for various tasks such as authentication,
logging, compression, and caching.

What is the Startup class in ASP.NET Core, and what is its

significance?
The Startup class in ASP.NET Core is a central component that configures
the application’s services and middleware during startup. It contains
methods such as ConfigureServices() to configure services (dependency
injection) and Configure() to configure the middleware pipeline. It’s
significant because it provides a structured way to initialize and configure
the application, making it easier to manage application startup and
configuration.
Differentiate between ASP.NET Core MVC and ASP.NET Core Web
API.
ASP.NET Core MVC is a framework for building web applications following
the Model-View-Controller architectural pattern, primarily used for
creating UI-based applications. ASP.NET Core Web API, on the other hand,
is used to build HTTP-based APIs that clients can use for web applications,
mobile apps, and other services. While MVC deals with views, controllers,
and models, Web API focuses on endpoints that return data in various
formats like JSON or XML.

What are Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core?

Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core are a new feature that simplifies the process
of creating and working with HTML elements in Razor views. They allow
developers to use HTML-like syntax with server-side logic to generate
HTML markup. Tag Helpers make writing and maintaining views easier by
reducing the amount of inline C# code and improving the readability of
the markup.

Describe Dependency Injection in ASP.NET Core.

Dependency Injection (DI) in ASP.NET Core is a design pattern and
technique used to manage the dependencies of components within an
application. It allows classes to define their dependencies through
constructor parameters or properties, and a container (provided by
ASP.NET Core) resolves these dependencies and injects them into the
classes when needed. DI promotes loose coupling, testability, and
maintainability by decoupling the creation and management of
dependencies from the classes that use them.

How does Routing work in ASP.NET Core?

Routing in ASP.NET Core is the process of matching incoming HTTP
requests to endpoints in the application. It is configured in the Startup
class using the UseRouting() method and defines patterns for matching
URLs to route templates. When a request is received, the routing
middleware examines the request’s URL and attempts to match it to a
registered route. The corresponding endpoint is invoked to handle the
request if a match is found.

What is Razor Pages in ASP.NET Core?

Razor Pages is a new feature introduced in ASP.NET Core that simplifies
the process of building web applications with a focus on UI and page-
centric development. It allows developers to define page-specific models
and handlers directly within the Razor (.cshtml) files, eliminating the need
for separate controller classes. Razor Pages promotes a more streamlined
and intuitive approach to building web applications, especially for simpler
scenarios where the MVC pattern might be overly complex.

Explain the concept of Model-View-Controller (MVC) in ASP.NET

Core:
MVC is a software architectural pattern that divides an application into
three main components: Model, View, and Controller. In ASP.NET Core, the
Model represents the data and business logic, the View is responsible for
displaying the user interface, and the Controller handles user input,
processes requests, and interacts with both the Model and View.

How do you handle user authentication and authorization in

ASP.NET Core?
ASP.NET Core provides built-in authentication and authorization
middleware to handle user authentication and authorization.
Authentication verifies the identity of users, while authorization controls
what resources they can access. This can be implemented using various
authentication schemes such as cookies, JWT tokens, or external providers
like OAuth.

What is Entity Framework Core, and how does it relate to

ASP.NET Core?
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM)
framework provided by Microsoft. It allows developers to work with
databases using .NET objects. In ASP.NET Core, EF Core is commonly used
for data access, allowing developers to interact with databases more
object-oriented, thus reducing the amount of boilerplate code needed for
data operations.

What is the difference between TempData, ViewBag, and

ViewData in ASP.NET Core?
TempData, ViewBag, and ViewData are mechanisms for passing data
between controllers and views in ASP.NET Core. TempData persists data
for the duration of an HTTP request and subsequent redirect, ViewBag is a
dynamic property used to pass data from controllers to views during the
current request, and ViewData is similar to ViewBag but uses a dictionary
to pass data from controllers to views.

How do you handle logging in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core provides built-in logging capabilities through the
Microsoft.Extensions.Logging framework. Developers can configure
logging providers such as Console, Debug, EventSource, File, or third-
party providers to log messages at different levels of severity. Logging
can be configured in the Startup.cs file or through configuration settings.

Explain the concept of Content Negotiation in ASP.NET Core:

Content Negotiation is the process of determining the best content type
(e.g., JSON, XML, HTML) to return to a client based on its preferences and
capabilities. In ASP.NET Core, Content Negotiation is handled
automatically by the framework through MediaTypeFormatters, which
serialize and deserialize data based on the content type requested by the
client.

Discuss the benefits of using ASP.NET Core over ASP.NET

Framework:
Some benefits of ASP.NET Core over ASP.NET Framework include cross-
platform support, improved performance, modularity, and easier
deployment with Docker and cloud platforms. ASP.NET Core has a smaller
footprint and supports modern development practices such as
dependency injection and middleware pipelines.

How do you handle errors and exceptions in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core provides middleware for handling errors and exceptions
globally or at the application level. Developers can use built-in middleware
like UseExceptionHandler to catch unhandled exceptions and return
appropriate error responses. Additionally, custom middleware can be
implemented to handle specific error scenarios.

What is Kestrel in the context of ASP.NET Core?

Kestrel is a lightweight, cross-platform web server that comes bundled
with ASP.NET Core. It’s the default web server used by ASP.NET Core
applications and is designed for high performance. Kestrel can also be
used as an edge server or a reverse proxy in combination with other web
servers like Nginx or IIS.

How do you deploy an ASP.NET Core application?

ASP.NET Core applications can be deployed using various methods,
including:
 Publishing directly from Visual Studio
 Using the dotnet CLI to publish the application as a self-contained or
framework-dependent package
 Deploying to cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud
Platform using platform-specific deployment tools or Docker
containers
 Deploying to on-premises servers via FTP, SSH, or other deployment
methods.
Discuss the role of ASP.NET Core in building microservices
architecture.
ASP.NET Core is an ideal framework for building microservices due to its
lightweight, modular, and cross-platform nature. It supports the
development of small, independent, and scalable services that can be
developed, deployed, and scaled independently. ASP.NET Core’s built-in
support for configuration, dependency injection, and various data storage
options make building resilient and maintainable microservices easier.
Additionally, its integration with Docker containers facilitates the
deployment and management of microservices in various environments.

Explain the concept of Routing in ASP.NET Core.

Routing in ASP.NET Core is the process of mapping incoming requests to
the appropriate controllers and actions. It is configured in the Startup.cs
file and enables the application to understand URLs, thereby determining
how requests are handled. ASP.NET Core supports both conventional
routing, which uses predefined patterns, and attribute routing, which
allows for more granular control by decorating controllers and actions with
attributes that define routes.

What is the difference between ASP.NET Core and ASP.NET MVC?

ASP.NET Core is a redesign of ASP.NET with a focus on cloud, modularity,
and cross-platform applications. It’s a framework for building web apps
and services, IoT apps, and mobile backends. ASP.NET MVC, on the other
hand, is a part of the older ASP.NET framework designed specifically for
building web applications using the Model-View-Controller pattern. While
ASP.NET MVC is only for web applications, ASP.NET Core encompasses
MVC as one of its components and extends support to APIs, Razor Pages,
real-time communications with SignalR, and more.

How do you return JSON from an ASP.NET Core Web API?

To return JSON from an ASP.NET Core Web API, you can use the JsonResult
type or return a model or an anonymous type from your controller action.
ASP.NET Core automatically serializes the object to JSON using the
configured JSON serializer (System.Text.Json by default). Here’s an
example:
public IActionResult Get()
{
var data = new { Name = "ASP.NET Core", Version = "Latest" };
return Json(data);
}

Alternatively, just returning the object works as well, thanks to the

framework’s content negotiation process:
public IActionResult Get()
{
var data = new { Name = "ASP.NET Core", Version = "Latest" };
return Ok(data);
}

What is the role of the ConfigureServices method in the Startup

class?
The ConfigureServices method in the Startup class is where you configure
the application’s services. This includes setting up dependency injection
for application services, adding framework services, and configuring
options. Services added here are available throughout the application via
dependency injection.

How do you enable Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) in

ASP.NET Core?
To enable CORS in ASP.NET Core, you need to add CORS services in the
ConfigureServices method of the Startup class using services.AddCors().
Then, configure the CORS policy with the desired settings, such as which
origins to allow. Apply the policy globally or on a per-endpoint basis using
the UseCors middleware in the Configure method or the [EnableCors]
attribute on controllers or actions, respectively.
Explain the concept of Dependency Injection and how it’s
implemented in ASP.NET Core.
Dependency Injection (DI) is a design pattern that allows for decoupling
components and their dependencies, making the system more modular
and testable. ASP.NET Core has built-in support for DI and is used
extensively. You configure services using the ConfigureServices method of
the Startup class, and the framework provides them where needed
through constructors or other means. This eliminates the need for manual
creation and management of object lifecycles.

What is the purpose of the appsettings.json file in an ASP.NET

Core application?
The appsettings.json file in an ASP.NET Core application is used for
configuration. It stores settings like connection strings, application
settings, and environment-specific configurations. ASP.NET Core’s
configuration system can read settings from various sources, and
appsettings.json serves as a convenient place to store application-level
configurations that can be easily accessed throughout the application.

How do you implement validation in ASP.NET Core?

Validation in ASP.NET Core can be implemented using data annotations
and Fluent Validation. Data annotations are attributes applied to model
properties to specify validation rules (e.g., [Required],
[StringLength(100)]). ASP.NET Core automatically checks these
annotations when model binding and returns appropriate validation
responses. Fluent Validation is a library that allows for more complex
validations to be configured using a fluent interface, offering a powerful
alternative to data annotations.

What is the role of the IActionResult interface in ASP.NET Core?

The IActionResult interface is used to represent the result of an action
method in ASP.NET Core. It provides a way to encapsulate different types
of action results into a single return type. Implementations of
IActionResult can represent various HTTP responses such as status codes,
JSON data, views, file downloads, and more. This abstraction allows for
flexible and maintainable code within controller actions.

How do you handle sessions in ASP.NET Core?

In ASP.NET Core, sessions are handled by using the session middleware.
To use sessions, you first need to add the session middleware to the
services collection in the ConfigureServices method of the Startup class
using services.AddSession(). Then, you need to configure the application
to use sessions by calling app.UseSession() in the Configure method
before any middleware that might write to the response. You can store
and retrieve session data using the HttpContext.Session property, which
provides methods like SetString, GetString, SetInt32, and GetInt32.

Explain the concept of Middleware pipeline in ASP.NET Core.

The Middleware pipeline in ASP.NET Core is a mechanism for how HTTP
requests are processed by the web application. Each middleware
component in the pipeline is responsible for invoking the next middleware
in the sequence or short-circuiting the pipeline. Middleware can perform a
variety of tasks, such as authentication, routing, session management,
and more. You configure the middleware pipeline in the Configure method
of the Startup class by chaining calls to the app.Use<Middleware>(). The
order in which middleware components are added to the pipeline defines
the order of execution for request processing and response generation.

What is the role of the wwwroot folder in an ASP.NET Core

application?
The wwwroot folder in an ASP.NET Core application is designated as the
root web directory. It contains static files like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and
image files. These files are served directly to clients and are accessible via
a path relative to the web root. ASP.NET Core applications use the Static
Files Middleware (app.UseStaticFiles()) to serve static files from the
wwwroot folder.

How do you handle file uploads in ASP.NET Core?

File uploads in ASP.NET Core are handled using the IFormFile interface. In
an action method, you can include parameters of type IFormFile to bind
uploaded files. You can then read the file stream and save it to a server
location using file I/O operations. It’s important to validate the file size and
type to prevent malicious uploads. ASP.NET Core also supports streaming
large files to minimize memory usage.

Discuss the differences between .NET Core and .NET Framework.

.NET Core is a cross-platform, open-source framework for building
modern, cloud-based web applications. It supports Windows, Linux, and
macOS. .NET Framework, on the other hand, is a Windows-only framework
designed for building desktop applications and web services. .NET Core
offers improved performance, side-by-side versioning, and a modular
architecture. .NET Framework has a broader API surface and supports
technologies like WebForms, WCF, and WF that are not available in .NET
Core. With the introduction of .NET 5 and beyond, Microsoft aims to unify
the .NET platforms.

What is the purpose of ConfigureServices and Configure methods

in the Startup class?
The ConfigureServices method in the Startup class is used to configure
services needed by the application, such as MVC, Entity Framework Core,
identity services, and more. This method is where you add services to the
Dependency Injection (DI) container.
The Configure method defines how the app responds to HTTP requests,
essentially configuring the middleware pipeline. This is where you call
UseRouting, UseAuthentication, UseAuthorization, UseEndpoints, and
other Use methods to add middleware components to the application.
How do you configure logging in ASP.NET Core?
Logging in ASP.NET Core is configured in the Program.cs file or the Startup
class, using the ILoggerFactory or the built-in DI to inject ILogger<T> into
your components. ASP.NET Core supports various logging providers, such
as console, debug, event source, and third-party loggers like Serilog or
NLog. You can configure logging levels and other settings through the
appsettings.json file or programmatically in code.

Explain the concept of Model Binding in ASP.NET Core.

Model Binding in ASP.NET Core automatically maps data from HTTP
requests to action method parameters. When a request is made, model
binding goes through the incoming data (from the form values, query
string, route data, and JSON POST body), and attempts to bind it to the
parameters of the action method being called. This simplifies the code for
handling requests by abstracting the manual extraction of data.

What is the difference between TempData and Session in ASP.NET

Core?
TempData is used to pass data from one request to another, making it
ideal for redirect scenarios. TempData is backed by session state but is
meant for temporary data, as it’s cleared out after it’s read in the
subsequent request.
Session, on the other hand, is used to store user data for the duration of
the user’s session on the website. It can store data across multiple
requests from the same browser session. Unlike TempData, the session
state doesn’t clear out data after it’s accessed.

How do you use Dependency Injection with Entity Framework

Core in ASP.NET Core?
In ASP.NET Core, Dependency Injection (DI) is used to inject instances of
DbContext (from Entity Framework Core) into controllers or other services.
To use DI with Entity Framework Core, you first register your DbContext
with the DI container in the ConfigureServices method of the Startup class
using services.AddDbContext<YourDbContext>(options =>
options.UseSqlServer(“YourConnectionString”)). This enables ASP.NET
Core to inject the DbContext into components that require it, promoting a
decoupled architecture and making your application easier to test and
maintain.

Advantages of using Entity Framework Core over Entity

Framework 6.x in ASP.NET Core:
 Cross-Platform Support: Entity Framework Core is designed to
work across different platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS), making
your data access layer more portable.
 Performance: EF Core has been designed to be lighter and faster
compared to EF 6.x. It includes optimizations such as batching of
statements and a more efficient query generation, which can lead to
significant performance improvements in your applications.
 Modular: EF Core allows you to include only the components you
need, reducing the application’s footprint.
 Support for New Databases: EF Core has been architected to
support a wider range of databases, including non-relational
databases, through a plug-in model for database providers.
 Improved LINQ Queries: EF Core translates LINQ queries to SQL
more efficiently, reducing the likelihood of runtime issues and
improving the ability to handle complex queries.
 Updated API: EF Core includes a streamlined and simplified API,
which makes working with data more intuitive and reduces the
learning curve for new developers.

How do you configure authentication in ASP.NET Core?

Authentication in ASP.NET Core is typically configured in the Startup.cs file
within the ConfigureServices method. You can configure various
authentication schemes such as cookie-based authentication, JWT (JSON
Web Tokens), or external authentication providers (Google, Facebook,
etc.) using the AddAuthentication method. The specific setup will depend
on the chosen authentication scheme, but it generally involves setting up
the authentication service and configuring it with the necessary
parameters, such as keys, tokens, or other credentials.

What is the purpose of the UseAuthentication and

UseAuthorization methods in ASP.NET Core?
Purpose of UseAuthentication and UseAuthorization methods:
 UseAuthentication registers the authentication middleware with the
application’s pipeline, enabling the app to authenticate each HTTP
request.
 UseAuthorization adds authorization middleware to the pipeline,
allowing the application to enforce authorization policies on
requests after authentication has taken place.
 These methods ensure that the application can securely identify
users and enforce access controls to resources based on user
identities or roles.

Explain the concept of Razor syntax in ASP.NET Core.

Razor syntax is a markup syntax that blends C# code with HTML. It allows
developers to generate web content with an ASP.NET Core view
dynamically. Razor minimizes the number of characters and keystrokes
required in a file and enables a fast, fluid coding workflow. With Razor,
you can easily incorporate C# logic directly within an HTML file, making it
powerful for developing dynamic web pages efficiently.

How do you implement custom middleware in ASP.NET Core?

Custom middleware in ASP.NET Core can be implemented by defining a
class with an Invoke or InvokeAsync method that takes HttpContext as a
parameter and returns a Task. This class is then registered in the
application’s request pipeline within the Configure method in Startup.cs
using the UseMiddleware<T> extension method, where T is your custom
middleware class. Custom middleware can perform various tasks such as
logging, request/response modification, authentication, etc.

Discuss the benefits of using Razor Pages over MVC in ASP.NET

Core.
 Simplicity: Razor Pages make page-focused scenarios easier and
more productive. It’s a simpler model to understand compared to
MVC, making it a great choice for developers who are new to
ASP.NET Core.
 Page-based Routing: Razor Pages uses a page-based routing
system that is more intuitive for page-focused applications. Each
Razor Page includes its routing information, making the structure of
the web application more apparent.
 Self-contained: Each Razor Page is self-contained with its view
component and page model in the same file, making it easier to
manage and understand the codebase for page-level functionalities.
 Enhanced Productivity: Razor Pages support features like tag
helpers and model binding that can reduce the amount of code you
need to write for form submissions and data handling.

How do you handle caching in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core supports several caching techniques, including in-memory
caching, distributed caching, and response caching. In-memory caching
involves storing data within the memory of the web server, which is fast
but local to that server. Distributed caching extends this by storing data
across multiple servers or using a distributed cache system like Redis or
SQL Server, which is useful in a load-balanced environment. Response
caching involves storing the output of a request-response cycle, which can
significantly reduce the amount of work the server needs to do to
generate a response.
What is the difference between TempData and ViewData in
ASP.NET Core?
TempData is used to pass data from one request to another, making it
suitable for redirect scenarios. TempData is kept only for the duration of
two requests before it is automatically deleted. It is typically used to store
one-time messages like success or error messages.
ViewData is a dictionary object that is used to pass data from a controller
to a view, and it is available only during the current request. If the page is
redirected, ViewData will be cleared. It requires typecasting for complex
data types and does not provide compile-time type checking.

How do you implement globalization and localization in ASP.NET

Core?
Globalization and localization in ASP.NET Core involve adapting an
application to support different languages and cultures. This can be
implemented by adding resource files for each language and culture you
want to support, configuring services in Startup.cs to add localization
support, and using the IStringLocalizer<T> interface in your application to
retrieve localized strings. Additionally, you can use IViewLocalizer for
views to achieve view-specific localization.

What are the different hosting options available for ASP.NET Core
applications?
ASP.NET Core applications can be hosted in several environments,
including:
 Kestrel, a cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core.
 IIS, as a reverse proxy server.
 HTTP.sys, for Windows-based internet services without using IIS.
 Docker containers, providing a way to package applications with
their dependencies and deploy them in a containerized
environment.
  Cloud services like Azure App Service, which offers a fully managed
platform for building, deploying, and scaling web apps.

Explain the concept of environment-specific configuration in

ASP.NET Core.
ASP.NET Core supports environment-specific configuration, allowing
developers to have different configurations (e.g., for development,
staging, and production) without changing the code. This is achieved
using multiple appsettings files (e.g., appsettings.Development.json,
appsettings.Production.json) and environment variables. The framework
automatically loads the appropriate settings based on the current
environment, which can be set through the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT
environment variable. This feature simplifies managing application
behavior across different deployment environments, improving the
development workflow and deployment process.

Explain the design principles behind ASP.NET Core. How does it

differ from previous versions of ASP.NET?
ASP.NET Core was designed with the principles of modularity, cross-
platform functionality, and performance in mind. It represents a significant
departure from previous versions of ASP.NET by:
 Modularity: ASP.NET Core allows developers to include only the
components they need, reducing application size and improving
performance.
 Cross-Platform: It can run on Windows, Linux, and macOS, making
it more versatile than its predecessor.
 Performance: ASP.NET Core is optimized for modern web
applications, offering improved performance due to its lightweight
and modular nature.

What is Kestrel? How does it compare to other web servers like

IIS or Apache?
Kestrel is a cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core. It is built on the
libuv library, which provides asynchronous I/O operations. Kestrel can be
used as a standalone web server or behind a reverse proxy like IIS or
Apache. Compared to IIS and Apache, Kestrel is designed to be fast and
lightweight, optimized for running ASP.NET Core applications. While IIS
and Apache offer more built-in features and management tools, Kestrel
provides better performance in ASP.NET Core environments.

What is Razor Pages in ASP.NET Core? How does it differ from

MVC?
Razor Pages is a page-based coding model that makes building web UI
easier and more productive. Unlike MVC, which requires controllers and
views, Razor Pages integrates the page model directly with view
rendering, simplifying page-focused scenarios. It’s part of the MVC
framework but focuses on page-centric architectures, making it
straightforward for developers to work on individual pages.

Explain Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core. Provide examples of when

and how to use them.
Tag Helpers enable server-side code to participate in creating and
rendering HTML elements in Razor files. They are used for linking CSS,
generating form elements, or creating custom components. For instance,
the AnchorTagHelper can be used to generate links, while the
FormTagHelper is used for form submissions. Tag Helpers improve the
readability of Razor markup and provide a more HTML-like development
experience.

What is the purpose of the Startup.cs file in an ASP.NET Core

application?
The Startup.cs file is where you configure the services and the request
pipeline for an ASP.NET Core application. It contains two methods:
 ConfigureServices: Used to add services to the application’s DI
container.
  Configure: Used to define how the app responds to HTTP requests,
essentially setting up the request processing pipeline with
middleware.

How do you configure logging in ASP.NET Core?

Logging in ASP.NET Core is configured in the Startup.cs file by calling
AddLogging on the IServiceCollection in the ConfigureServices method
and by setting up logging providers (e.g., Console, Debug, EventSource) in
the appsettings.json file or programmatically in the Configure method.
ASP.NET Core uses a logging API that supports multiple providers and
categories, making it flexible and extensible.

What is the role of the appsettings.json file in ASP.NET Core? How

do you access settings from this file in your application?
The appsettings.json file in ASP.NET Core is used for storing configuration
settings like connection strings, logging configurations, and application-
specific settings. Settings from this file can be accessed in the application
through the IConfiguration interface, which is typically injected into
classes where configurations are needed.

Explain the concept of Middleware in ASP.NET Core. Provide

examples of commonly used middleware.
Middleware in ASP.NET Core is software that’s assembled into an
application pipeline to handle requests and responses. Each component
chooses whether to pass the request to the next component in the
pipeline and can perform operations before and after the next component.
Commonly used middleware includes:
 Static File Middleware for serving static files.
 Authentication Middleware for authentication.
 MVC Middleware for handling MVC requests.

What are the benefits of using dependency injection in ASP.NET

Core? How do you implement it?
Dependency Injection (DI) in ASP.NET Core provides a way to inject object
dependencies at runtime rather than at compile time. This promotes a
loosely coupled design, improving testability and maintenance. ASP.NET
Core includes a built-in DI container that supports constructor injection by
default, making it easy to implement DI throughout your application.

What is the difference between services.AddTransient,

services.AddScoped, and services.AddSingleton in ASP.NET Core
dependency injection?
 services.AddTransient: Creates a new instance each time the
service is requested.
 services.AddScoped: Creates a single instance within the scope
per request. Ideal for data operations within a single request.
 services.AddSingleton: Creates a single instance that persists for
the application’s lifetime and is shared across all requests. Useful
for services that are stateless or need to maintain state globally.

Explain the differences between HttpContext, HttpRequest, and

HttpResponse in ASP.NET Core.
 HttpContext: Represents the context of an individual HTTP request
in ASP.NET Core. It includes all information about the current HTTP
request, including HttpRequest, HttpResponse, and other request-
specific features like authentication data, session data, and
environment information.
 HttpRequest: Part of the HttpContext, it encapsulates all HTTP-
specific information about an incoming request. This includes details
like the query string, form data, headers, cookies, and the HTTP
method used (GET, POST, etc.).
 HttpResponse: Also part of the HttpContext, it represents the
outgoing response that the server will send back to the client. This
includes everything that you want to send back to the client, such
as response headers, cookies, and the body content.
How do you handle exceptions globally in ASP.NET Core?
To handle exceptions globally in ASP.NET Core, you can use the
middleware UseExceptionHandler in the Configure method of the Startup
class. This middleware can be configured to redirect to a specific error-
handling route or page, which can log and return the appropriate
response to the client.
app.UseExceptionHandler(“/error”);
Additionally, for more granular control, especially for APIs, you can
implement a custom exception handling middleware or use
UseStatusCodePages middleware, which provides a way to handle specific
HTTP status codes.

What is the difference between authentication and authorization

in ASP.NET Core?
Authentication is the process of verifying who a user is. It involves
validating user credentials (like username and password) against a known
store (such as a database) to confirm the user’s identity.
Authorization is the process of determining what resources and operations
a user can access or perform after they are authenticated. It involves
checking whether an authenticated user has the right permissions to
access a resource or execute an action.

How do you implement authentication and authorization using

JWT in ASP.NET Core?
To implement authentication and authorization using JWT (JSON Web
Tokens) in ASP.NET Core, you first need to configure the JWT bearer token
service in the Startup.cs file by adding the JWT bearer authentication
scheme to the ConfigureServices method. Then, you issue JWT tokens
from your login or authentication endpoint. Tokens typically include claims
that are used for authorization decisions. You secure endpoints using the
[Authorize] attribute, optionally specifying roles or policies that dictate
access.
What are policy-based authorization and resource-based
authorization in ASP.NET Core?
Policy-based authorization involves defining policies with specific
requirements (like a minimum age, membership duration, or having
certain roles or claims) and applying those policies to controllers or
actions using the [Authorize(Policy = “PolicyName”)] attribute.
Resource-based authorization involves making authorization decisions
based on the resource being accessed and the user’s operation on it. This
is typically implemented programmatically within your code, where you
check whether a user has permission to perform an action on a resource.

Explain the role of Claims-based authentication in ASP.NET Core.

Claims-based authentication uses claims to convey information about a
user’s identity and permissions. A claim is a statement about a user, such
as name, role, age, etc. In ASP.NET Core, claims-based authentication is a
flexible way to authenticate users and authorize access, allowing
applications to make decisions based on the rich set of claims attached to
the authenticated user.

What is Entity Framework Core? How does it differ from Entity

Framework 6?
Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is a lightweight, extensible, and cross-
platform version of Entity Framework, a popular Object-Relational
Mapping (ORM) framework for .NET. EF Core is designed to work with both
.NET Core and .NET Framework. Compared to Entity Framework 6, EF Core
offers improved performance, a modular design that allows for non-
relational databases, and support for asynchronous programming
patterns.

How do you configure Entity Framework Core in an ASP.NET Core

application?
To configure Entity Framework Core in an ASP.NET Core application, you
typically add the EF Core package for your database provider (e.g., SQL
Server, PostgreSQL) to your project. In the Startup.cs file, you configure
the database context using the ConfigureServices method using the
AddDbContext extension method, specifying the connection string and
other options as needed.
What are migrations in Entity Framework Core? How do you
create and apply them?
Migrations in Entity Framework Core are a way to manage and apply
schema changes to your database over time. You create a migration using
the Add-Migration <MigrationName> command in the Package Manager
Console or dotnet ef migrations add <MigrationName> using the .NET CLI.
To apply migrations to your database, you use the Update-Database
command in the Package Manager Console or dotnet ef database update
using the .NET CLI.

Explain the Repository pattern. How do you implement it with

Entity Framework Core in ASP.NET Core?
The Repository pattern abstracts the data layer, providing a collection-like
interface for accessing domain objects. It helps decouple the application’s
business logic from data access logic. To implement it with Entity
Framework Core in an ASP.NET Core application, you define repository
interfaces and classes that use an EF Core context to perform CRUD
operations. These repositories are then injected into your services or
controllers, allowing for cleaner, more maintainable code by separating
concerns.

What are Data Transfer Objects (DTOs)? When and why would you
use them in an ASP.NET Core application?
DTOs are simple objects that are used to transfer data between processes
or layers in an application without unnecessary data or behavior. In
ASP.NET Core applications, you use DTOs to send only the required data
from the server to the client or vice versa, particularly when working with
APIs. This approach helps improve performance by reducing payload size
and ensuring that sensitive data is not exposed inadvertently. DTOs also
help in decoupling the internal domain model from the external interface,
making the system more robust to changes.

What is the difference between DbContext.SaveChanges and

DbContext.SaveChangesAsync in Entity Framework Core?
DbContext.SaveChanges executes synchronously and blocks the calling
thread until the operation is completed. It commits all changes made in
the context of the database. On the other hand,
DbContext.SaveChangesAsync performs the same operation
asynchronously without blocking the calling thread, allowing for a more
responsive application, especially in web environments where I/O
operations can be time-consuming. SaveChangesAsync is particularly
beneficial in ASP.NET Core applications for improving scalability and
responsiveness.

Explain the concept of Inversion of Control (IoC) and how it is

implemented in ASP.NET Core.
Inversion of Control (IoC) is a design principle where the control of objects
or portions of a program is transferred to a container or framework. It’s
primarily used for managing dependencies between objects. In ASP.NET
Core, IoC is implemented through a built-in Dependency Injection (DI)
container. This container is responsible for instantiating classes and
managing their lifecycles, allowing for loosely coupled components, which
increases the modularity and testability of the application.

What is the role of the appsettings.Development.json file in an

ASP.NET Core application?
The appsettings.Development.json file is used to store configuration
settings that are specific to the development environment in an ASP.NET
Core application. This allows developers to have settings like connection
strings, logging levels, and other environment-specific configurations that
differ from production or other environments. This file overrides the
settings in the appsettings.json file when running in the development
environment, ensuring that sensitive production data is not exposed
during development.

How do you handle cross-cutting concerns such as logging,

caching, and validation in ASP.NET Core?
In ASP.NET Core, cross-cutting concerns like logging, caching, and
validation are handled through the use of middleware, filters, and
attributes. Middleware components are used to implement concerns
globally across all requests (e.g., logging and caching). Filters and
attributes can be applied to controllers or actions to handle concerns like
validation and caching at a more granular level. Dependency Injection (DI)
is also leveraged to inject services such as logging and caching into
classes where they are needed.

Explain the concept of CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) in

ASP.NET Core. How do you configure it?
CORS is a security feature that allows or restricts web applications from
making requests to resources hosted on a domain different from the one
the application was served from. In ASP.NET Core, CORS can be
configured using middleware. You configure it by adding the CORS
services in the ConfigureServices method of the Startup class and then
enabling CORS with the desired policy in the Configure method. This setup
allows specifying which origins, headers, and methods are allowed for
cross-origin requests.

What are the benefits of using middleware for exception handling

in ASP.NET Core compared to traditional try-catch blocks?
Using middleware for exception handling in ASP.NET Core allows for
centralized error management, reducing code duplication and ensuring
consistency in handling exceptions across the application. Unlike
scattered try-catch blocks, middleware provides a clean and unobtrusive
way to catch and respond to errors from a single location. It also allows for
the separation of error-handling logic from business logic, making the
code cleaner and easier to maintain.

What are Health Checks in ASP.NET Core? How do you implement

them?
Health Checks in ASP.NET Core are used to monitor the status and health
of an application and its dependencies, such as databases and external
services. They are implemented by registering health check services in
the ConfigureServices method of the Startup class and configuring a
health check endpoint in the Configure method. Health checks can then
be used by external monitoring services or load balancers to determine
the health of an application, facilitating automatic failover or alerting
mechanisms.

Explain the concept of versioning APIs in ASP.NET Core. How do

you version your APIs?
API versioning in ASP.NET Core allows you to support multiple versions of
an API simultaneously, ensuring backward compatibility while allowing for
new features and changes. Versioning can be achieved through different
methods, such as URL path, query string parameters, header values, or
content negotiation. ASP.NET Core supports API versioning through the
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Versioning package, which provides attributes
and services to define and manage API versions easily.

What is SignalR? How do you implement real-time communication

using SignalR in ASP.NET Core?
SignalR is a library for ASP.NET Core that enables real-time web
functionality, allowing server-side code to push content to clients
instantly. It’s used for applications that require high-frequency updates
from the server, such as chat applications, live gaming, real-time
monitoring, and more. To implement SignalR, you add the SignalR service
to the ConfigureServices method in Startup, define hubs that manage
connections and communication, and configure routes for these hubs in
the Configure method. Clients can then connect to these hubs using the
SignalR JavaScript client or other client SDKs to send and receive real-time
messages.

What are the advantages of using DI containers like Autofac or

Unity over the built-in DI container in ASP.NET Core?
The built-in DI container in ASP.NET Core is designed to be lightweight and
straightforward, catering to most development needs. However, third-
party DI containers like Autofac or Unity offer advanced features such as:
 Property and Method Injection: Beyond constructor injection,
allowing for more complex scenarios.
 Advanced Lifetime Management: More sophisticated control
over object lifetimes and scopes.
 AOP Support: Facilitating aspects like logging, transaction
management, etc., through dynamic proxies.
 Better Support for Generic Types: Enhanced capabilities for
resolving generic types.
 Performance: In certain scenarios, third-party containers might
offer performance optimizations tailored to specific needs.
These features make third-party DI containers attractive for complex
applications requiring more than the basic functionalities provided by the
built-in DI container.

How do you handle file uploads in ASP.NET Core?

File uploads in ASP.NET Core can be handled using the IFormFile interface
in an action method. Here’s a simplified example:
[HttpPost]
public async Task<IActionResult> UploadFile(IFormFile file)
{
if (file == null || file.Length == 0)
{
return BadRequest("No file uploaded.");
}
var path = Path.Combine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), "uploads",
file.FileName);
using (var stream = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create))
{
await file.CopyToAsync(stream);
}
return Ok("File successfully uploaded.");
}

This code snippet demonstrates receiving a file from a form submission,

validating it, and saving it to a predefined location on the server.

Explain the concept of Action Filters in ASP.NET Core. Provide

examples of when and how to use them.
Action Filters in ASP.NET Core allow you to execute code before or after
specific stages in the action execution pipeline. They’re useful for
concerns like logging, authentication, caching, or modifying the result of
an action. For example, an action filter could log the execution time of
action methods or apply custom authorization checks.
You can apply action filters globally, at the controller level, or the action
level using attributes. Here’s an example of a simple logging filter:
public class LogActionFilter : IActionFilter
{
public void OnActionExecuting(ActionExecutingContext context)
{
// Code before the action executes
Log("Before executing action");
}
public void OnActionExecuted(ActionExecutedContext context)
{
// Code after the action executes
Log("After executing action");
}
private void Log(string message)
{
// Logging logic here
}
}

This filter logs messages before and after an action method executes.

What are the benefits of using the Factory pattern in ASP.NET

Core? Provide examples.
The Factory pattern is beneficial in ASP.NET Core for creating instances of
objects without specifying the exact class of the object that will be
created. This is particularly useful for:
 Decoupling Code: Reducing dependencies between the
application’s components, thereby making the system more
modular and easier to maintain or extend.
 Supporting Advanced Scenarios: Like conditional instantiation of
different classes based on runtime parameters or configuration.
 Enhancing Testability: By allowing mocking of objects for unit
tests.
For example, a payment processing system might use a factory to
instantiate different payment service objects based on the payment
method selected by the user.

How do you handle distributed caching in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core supports distributed caching using implementations like
Redis or SQL Server. This allows applications to maintain a consistent
cache across multiple server instances in a web farm or cloud
environment. You configure the distributed cache in the Startup.cs file:
services.AddStackExchangeRedisCache(options =>
{
options.Configuration = "localhost";
options.InstanceName = "SampleInstance";
});
You can then inject IDistributedCache into your services or controllers to
interact with the cache.

Explain the role of IHostedService and BackgroundService in

ASP.NET Core.
IHostedService and BackgroundService (which is an abstract class
implementing IHostedService) allow you to run background tasks in a web
application. These are useful for tasks that need to run outside the
request processing pipeline, such as background data processing,
scheduled tasks, or integrating long-running operations.
BackgroundService provides a base for implementing long-running
IHostedService with a background task loop. Implementations should
override the ExecuteAsync method to execute the background task.

What is gRPC? How do you implement gRPC services in ASP.NET

Core?
gRPC is a high-performance, open-source universal RPC framework. In
ASP.NET Core, you can implement gRPC services by:
 Defining your service in a .proto file.
 Generating the server and client code using the Grpc.Tools NuGet
package.
 Implementing the service class derived from the generated base
class.
 Configuring the gRPC services in the Startup.cs file.
 gRPC services in ASP.NET Core support both unary and streaming
calls and can be consumed by clients built in any language that
supports gRPC.

What are the benefits of using Swagger/OpenAPI for documenting

ASP.NET Core APIs?
Swagger (OpenAPI) provides a standardized, language-agnostic interface
to REST APIs, allowing both humans and computers to discover and
understand the capabilities of the service without access to source code,
documentation, or network traffic. Benefits include:
 Interactive Documentation: Allows consumers to easily test and
interact with the API.
 Client SDK Generation: Enables automatic generation of client
libraries in various programming languages.
 API Discoverability and Testing: Simplifies the process of
discovering and understanding API endpoints and their expected
parameters and responses.
Integration with ASP.NET Core can be easily achieved using the
Swashbuckle.AspNetCore package.

Explain the concept of Application Insights. How do you integrate

it into an ASP.NET Core application?
Application Insights is an extensible Application Performance Management
(APM) service for web developers, supporting multiple platforms. It helps
you monitor your live applications by automatically detecting performance
anomalies, providing powerful analytics, and enabling diagnostic logging.
To integrate Application Insights into an ASP.NET Core application, you
can:
 Add the Application Insights SDK via the NuGet package.
 Configure the service in the Startup.cs or through the
appsettings.json file with the Instrumentation Key.
 Use the Application Insights API to track custom events, metrics, or
dependencies.

What is the purpose of the IWebHostEnvironment interface in

ASP.NET Core?
The IWebHostEnvironment interface provides information about the web
hosting environment in which an application is running. It allows
applications to programmatically adjust their behavior based on the
environment name (e.g., Development, Staging, Production) by
enabling/disabling certain features or choosing different configuration
files. It is typically injected into the Startup class, where environment-
specific configurations can be applied.

How do you handle routing in ASP.NET Core?

Routing in ASP.NET Core is handled through a middleware that matches
HTTP requests to endpoint handlers. Routes can be configured in the
Startup.cs file using the app.UseEndpoints method, where you can define
patterns for URLs and map them to controllers and actions (for MVC apps)
or Razor Pages. ASP.NET Core supports both conventional routing, where
routes are defined explicitly, and attribute routing, where routes are
defined via attributes on controllers or actions.

What is the purpose of the IApplicationBuilder interface in

ASP.NET Core?
IApplicationBuilder is used in the Configure method of the Startup.cs file
to configure the HTTP request pipeline of an ASP.NET Core application. It
provides a mechanism to register middleware components in a specific
order. Each middleware can perform operations before and after the next
component in the pipeline, allowing for tasks such as authentication,
routing, and response generation.

Explain the differences between IIS Hosting, Kestrel Hosting, and

Self Hosting in ASP.NET Core.
 IIS Hosting: Uses IIS as a reverse proxy with Kestrel or HTTP.sys as
the underlying web server. IIS manages process activation and
provides an additional layer of security and manageability.
 Kestrel Hosting: A cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core,
used for hosting directly on a network edge, capable of running
without a reverse proxy in front of it, recommended to be used with
a reverse proxy for production.
 Self Hosting: Refers to hosting the application within a custom
process (like a Windows service or console application) using Kestrel
 or HTTP.sys directly, providing full control over the hosting
environment.

What are the benefits of using the HttpClientFactory in ASP.NET

Core to make HTTP requests?
HttpClientFactory offers several benefits for managing HttpClient
instances in ASP.NET Core applications:
 Lifecycle Management: It handles the pooling and lifecycle of
HttpClient instances, avoiding socket exhaustion issues.
 Policies: It integrates with Polly, allowing easy implementation of
retry policies, circuit breakers, and more.
 Configuration: It allows for centralized configuration of HttpClient
instances, making it easier to apply consistent settings across the
application.

Explain the concept of scaffolding in ASP.NET Core. How do you

use it to generate code?
Scaffolding in ASP.NET Core is a code generation framework that allows
developers to quickly generate boilerplate code for common patterns,
such as MVC controllers, Razor Pages, entity models, and CRUD (Create,
Read, Update, Delete) operations against a database. It can be used
through the .NET CLI or within Visual Studio, speeding up development by
generating the necessary code structure and elements based on the
project’s context.

What are the benefits of using Razor Class Libraries (RCLs) in

ASP.NET Core?
Razor Class Libraries (RCLs) enable the sharing of Razor views, pages,
controllers, and data models across multiple ASP.NET Core web
applications. Benefits include:
 Reusability: Promotes DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principles by
allowing reuse of UI components and logic.
  Modularity: Enhances application maintainability by encapsulating
different functionalities within separate class libraries.
 Simplifies Deployment and Updates: Shared components can be
updated across all applications by updating the RCL.

What is the purpose of the IActionResult interface in ASP.NET

Core?
The IActionResult interface is used in ASP.NET Core MVC and Razor Pages
to represent the result of an action method. It abstracts the way actions
return data and allows for a flexible mechanism to return different types
of responses (views, file downloads, redirects, HTTP status codes, etc.),
making the action methods more modular and testable.

How do you implement background tasks in ASP.NET Core?

Background tasks in ASP.NET Core can be implemented using hosted
services with the IHostedService interface or by deriving from the
BackgroundService abstract class. These services can run background
operations on a timer or in response to some trigger. They are registered
in the ConfigureServices method of Startup.cs and are useful for tasks
that should occur outside the request processing pipeline, such as
background data processing or periodic cleanup tasks.

What is the purpose of the IWebHostBuilder interface in ASP.NET

Core?
The IWebHostBuilder interface in ASP.NET Core is used to configure and
build an instance of IWebHost. It abstracts the setup of the web server
and the hosting environment, allowing developers to configure services,
the request processing pipeline, logging, and more. It is typically used in
the Program.cs file of an ASP.NET Core application to configure and launch
the application’s web server.

What is middleware?
Middleware in the context of web applications, particularly with
frameworks like ASP.NET Core, is software that’s assembled into an
application pipeline to handle requests and responses. Each component in
the middleware chain is responsible for invoking the next component in
the sequence or short-circuiting the chain if necessary. Middleware
components can perform a variety of tasks, such as authentication,
routing, logging, and response compression.

How do you create custom middleware?

To create custom middleware in ASP.NET Core, you define a class with an
Invoke or InvokeAsync method that takes HttpContext as a parameter and
returns a Task. The class may also include a constructor that accepts any
required dependencies. This custom middleware is then registered in the
application’s request pipeline, typically in the Configure method of the
Startup class, using the UseMiddleware<TMiddleware> extension method.

What are some common use cases for middleware?

Common use cases for middleware include:
 Authentication: Identifying the user making a request.
 Authorization: Determining if the identified user has permission to
access a resource.
 Logging and Monitoring: Recording requests and responses for
diagnostics.
 Error Handling: Catching and processing exceptions.
 Caching: Storing responses to reduce the load on the server.
 Localization: Adjusting responses based on the user’s locale.

What is dependency injection?

Dependency Injection (DI) is a design pattern used to achieve Inversion of
Control (IoC) between classes and their dependencies. It allows for
decoupling of the construction of a class’s dependencies from its
behavior, making the system more modular, easier to test, and more
configurable.
How does ASP.NET Core utilize Dependency Injection?
ASP.NET Core has built-in support for dependency injection. It provides a
DI container that is configured at application startup, where services
(dependencies) are registered. These services can then be injected into
controllers, middleware, and other components throughout the
application, promoting loose coupling and testability.

How do you Register Services in ASP.NET Core?

Services are registered using the ConfigureServices method of the Startup
class in ASP.NET Core. You use the provided IServiceCollection to add
services to the application. There are several methods for registering
services, including AddSingleton, AddScoped, and AddTransient,
depending on the desired lifetime of the service instances.

Explain the differences between transient, scoped, and singleton

services.
 Transient: A new instance of the service is created each time it is
requested from the service container.
 Scoped: A new instance of the service is created once per request
within the scope. It is the same within a request but different across
different requests.
 Singleton: A single instance of the service is created and shared
throughout the application’s lifetime.

How do you implement authentication in ASP.NET Core?

Authentication in ASP.NET Core is implemented using the Authentication
middleware. You configure it in the Startup class, specifying the
authentication scheme(s) your application uses. ASP.NET Core supports
various authentication mechanisms, such as cookies, JWT bearer tokens,
and external authentication providers like Google, Facebook, etc. You set
up these schemes in the ConfigureServices method and then apply them
to your application using attributes or policies.
Explain the differences between JWT, OAuth, and OpenID Connect.
 JWT (JSON Web Token): A compact, URL-safe means of
representing claims to be transferred between two parties. It’s a
token format used in authentication and information exchange.
 OAuth: An authorization framework that enables a third-party
application to obtain limited access to an HTTP service. It’s about
delegation of authorization.
 OpenID Connect: A simple identity layer on top of OAuth 2.0,
which allows clients to verify the identity of the end-user and to
obtain basic profile information in an interoperable and REST-like
manner.

How do you configure authorization policies?

Authorization policies in ASP.NET Core are configured using the
ConfigureServices method of the Startup class by using the
AddAuthorization method. You can define policies that incorporate various
requirements, such as user roles, claims, or custom requirements. These
policies are then applied to controllers or actions within your application
through attributes (like [Authorize]) or by using the policy name directly if
more complex rules are needed.

What is the role of ASP.NET Core Identity in authentication and

authorization?
ASP.NET Core Identity is a membership system that adds login
functionality to ASP.NET Core applications. It supports authentication
(verifying who a user is) and authorization (determining what resources a
user is allowed to access). ASP.NET Core Identity allows for easily
integrating user profiles and managing user accounts, passwords, roles,
and security tokens.

What is Entity Framework Core?

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is an open-source, lightweight,
extensible, and cross-platform version of Entity Framework, Microsoft’s
Object Relational Mapper (ORM) for .NET. It enables developers to work
with a database using .NET objects, eliminating the need for most of the
data-access code that developers usually need to write.

How do you configure EF Core in ASP.NET Core Projects?

To configure EF Core in an ASP.NET Core project, you typically:
 Install the necessary NuGet packages for EF Core and the database
provider you’re using (e.g.,
Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer for SQL Server).
 Define your DbContext and entity classes to represent your
database schema.
 Register the DbContext with the dependency injection container in
the Startup.cs file using the services.AddDbContext method.
 Configure the connection string in the appsettings.json file and read
it in Startup.cs to set up the database connection.

Explain the differences between Code First and Database First

approaches.
 Code First: Developers write C# classes to define the database
model; then, EF Core migrations are used to generate the database
schema based on these classes. It’s suitable for new projects where
the database schema is developed alongside the application.
 Database First: Begins with an existing database, and EF Core
scaffolding is used to generate the entity classes and DbContext
based on the schema of the existing database. It’s suitable for
projects that need to work with an existing database.

How do you handle database migrations?

Database migrations in EF Core are handled through the dotnet ef
migrations command-line tool or the Package Manager Console in Visual
Studio. To handle migrations, you typically:
  Create a migration using the Add-Migration command, providing a
name for the migration.
 Apply the migration to the database using the Update-Database
command, which updates the database schema to match the
current model by applying the necessary changes.

How do you secure ASP.NET Core Applications?

Securing ASP.NET Core applications involves multiple strategies,
including:
 Implementing authentication and authorization (e.g., using ASP.NET
Core Identity).
 Using HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
 Implementing data protection to secure sensitive data.
 Using anti-forgery tokens to prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery
(CSRF) attacks.
 Validating and sanitizing input to prevent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
attacks.

Explain Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery

(CSRF) attacks and how to mitigate them.
 XSS: An attacker injects malicious scripts into content that is then
served to other users. Mitigation includes validating and encoding
user input and using Content Security Policy (CSP) headers.
 CSRF: An attacker tricks a user’s browser into executing
unauthorized actions on a web application in which they’re
authenticated. Mitigation involves using anti-forgery tokens that
validate that the requests to the server are legitimate and
originated from the site itself.

What are some best practices for securing APIs?

Best practices for securing APIs include:
 Implementing authentication and authorization, often using tokens
(such as JWT).
  Using HTTPS to secure data in transit.
 Validating and sanitizing input to prevent injection attacks.
 Limiting request rates to prevent abuse.
 Applying the principle of least privilege to API access.

How do you handle sensitive data in ASP.NET Core applications?

Handling sensitive data securely involves:
 Encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit (using HTTPS).
 Using ASP.NET Core’s Data Protection API to encrypt data in your
application.
 Ensuring that sensitive data is not exposed in logs or error
messages.
 Implementing proper access controls to limit who can access
sensitive data.

How do you deploy ASP.NET Core applications?

Deploying ASP.NET Core applications can be done in several ways,
including:
 To a web server, like IIS, using Web Deploy or FTP.
 To cloud services, like Azure App Service, directly from Visual Studio
or using CI/CD pipelines.
 Using containers, deploying as a Docker container to a container
orchestration service like Kubernetes.
 Creating self-contained deployments (SCD) or framework-dependent
deployments (FDD) for hosting on any platform that supports .NET.

What are some deployment options available for ASP.NET Core?

 IIS (Internet Information Services): A flexible, secure, and
manageable Web server for hosting anything on the Web.
 Kestrel: A cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core.
 Docker Containers: Package applications with all of their
dependencies and services.
  Cloud Services: Azure App Service, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, and
Google Cloud App Engine are popular cloud hosting options.
 Linux or Windows Virtual Machines: For full control over the
hosting environment.

Explain the role of Docker and Kubernetes in ASP.NET Core

deployment.
 Docker: Provides a way to package ASP.NET Core applications with
all their dependencies into containers, ensuring consistency across
environments and simplifying deployment.
 Kubernetes: An orchestration tool for Docker containers, managing
aspects like scaling, load balancing, and self-healing of containers in
cluster environments, facilitating microservices architecture.

How do you implement continuous integration and continuous

deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for ASP.NET Core?
Utilize tools like Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or GitHub Actions to automate the
build, test, and deployment process of ASP.NET Core applications.
Set up pipelines to include steps for code compilation, running tests, and
deploying to various environments (development, staging, production)
based on triggers like code commits or manual approvals.

What are microservices?

 Definition: An architectural style that structures an application as a
collection of loosely coupled, independently deployable services.
 Design in ASP.NET Core: Use ASP.NET Core’s lightweight,
modular nature to develop individual microservices. Leverage APIs
for communication between services and Docker containers for
isolation and deployment.
Explain the role of messaging queues and service buses in
distributed systems.
 Messaging Queues (e.g., RabbitMQ, Azure Queue
Storage): Enable asynchronous communication between services,
enhancing decoupling and scalability.
 Service Buses (e.g., Azure Service Bus, MassTransit): Provide
more complex routing, message sequencing, and transaction
management, facilitating sophisticated integration patterns across
services.

What challenges do you face when developing distributed

systems with ASP.NET Core?
 Complexity: Increased complexity in managing multiple services,
inter-service communication, and data consistency.
 Deployment: Coordinating deployment across multiple services.
 Monitoring and Logging: Centralizing logs and monitoring from
disparate services.
 Latency: Increased latency due to network calls between services.

How do you optimize performance in ASP.NET Core applications?

 Response Caching: Use response caching to reduce the load on
the server and speed up responses.
 Asynchronous Programming: Leverage async/await to improve
scalability and responsiveness.
 Minimize Resource Usage: Optimize database queries, minimize
the use of blocking calls, and use efficient algorithms.

What are some techniques to reduce latency in web applications?

 Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Use CDNs to serve static
files closer to the user’s location.
 Load Balancing: Distribute requests across multiple servers to
reduce load and improve response times.
  Optimize Assets: Minify and bundle CSS and JavaScript files,
compress images.

Explain caching strategies in ASP.NET Core.

 In-Memory Caching: Stores data in the memory of the web server
for quick access. Suitable for single-server or ephemeral data.
 Distributed Caching: Distributed cache systems like Redis or
Memcached can be used to share cache data across multiple
servers, which is beneficial for scalable applications.
 Response Caching: Cache the entire response or parts of it to
serve repeated requests quickly.

How do you identify and resolve performance bottlenecks?

To identify performance bottlenecks, I use tools like Visual Studio
Diagnostic Tools, Application Insights, or third-party profilers. I focus on
areas like slow database queries, inefficient memory use, or CPU-intensive
operations. Once identified, I resolve these bottlenecks by optimizing the
code, implementing caching, and using asynchronous programming
models to improve response times and resource utilization.

What are the different types of tests you can write for ASP.NET
Core applications?
In ASP.NET Core applications, we can write unit tests, integration tests,
and functional tests. Unit tests focus on testing individual components or
methods for correctness. Integration tests verify the interaction between
components or systems, such as database access and API calls. Functional
tests, or end-to-end tests, validate the application as a whole, ensuring
that the user experience is as expected.

How do you unit test controllers and services?

To unit test controllers and services, I use a testing framework like xUnit
or NUnit, along with a mocking library like Moq. For controllers, I mock the
services they depend on to isolate the controller logic. For services, I
mock external dependencies like database contexts or external APIs. This
approach allows me to test the behavior of my code in isolation from its
dependencies.

Explain integration testing in ASP.NET Core.

Integration testing in ASP.NET Core involves testing the application’s
components as a whole, ensuring they work together as expected. This
includes testing interactions with databases, file systems, and external
services. I use the ASP.NET Core TestHost package to run the application
in a test environment, allowing me to send requests to the application and
assert the responses and side effects.

What are some popular testing frameworks used with ASP.NET

Core?
Popular testing frameworks for ASP.NET Core include xUnit, NUnit, and
MSTest for writing test cases. For mocking dependencies, libraries like
Moq, NSubstitute, and FakeItEasy are commonly used. For integration
testing, the ASP.NET Core provides built-in support through
Microsoft.AspNetCore.TestHost package, which is often combined with
SpecFlow for behavior-driven development (BDD) scenarios.

How do you create RESTful APIs in ASP.NET Core?

To create RESTful APIs in ASP.NET Core, I define controllers inheriting from
ControllerBase and use attributes to map HTTP verbs to action methods. I
adhere to REST principles, designing endpoints around resources and
using HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) semantically. For content
negotiation, I leverage ASP.NET Core’s built-in support to automatically
handle JSON, XML, or custom formats based on the Accept header in the
request.

What is the role of controllers and actions?

Controllers in ASP.NET Core serve as the entry point for handling HTTP
requests and returning responses. Each controller contains actions, which
are methods that handle requests for a specific route or URL. Actions read
data from the request, perform operations (such as calling a service), and
return a response, which can be a view, data, or status code.

Explain content negotiation in ASP.NET Core Web API.

Content negotiation in ASP.NET Core Web API involves selecting the
appropriate format for the response content based on the client’s request.
ASP.NET Core automatically handles this through the Accept header,
where the client specifies the desired media type(s). The framework then
uses formatters to serialize the response data into the requested format,
such as JSON or XML.

How do you handle routing and versioning in Web APIs?

For routing, I use attribute routing in ASP.NET Core to define routes
directly on controllers and actions, providing clear and customizable URL
patterns. For versioning, I implement URL path, query string, or header-
based versioning strategies using built-in services or third-party libraries.
This approach allows me to maintain multiple versions of the API, ensuring
backward compatibility while introducing new features.

ASP.NET Core MVC Basic Interview Questions and Answers

What is ASP.NET Core MVC, and how does it differ from ASP.NET
MVC?
ASP.NET Core MVC is a modern, cloud-optimized framework for building
web applications and APIs based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC)
design pattern. It is a part of ASP.NET Core, which is a complete rewrite of
the classic ASP.NET 4.x, with architectural changes to make it leaner,
more modular, and cross-platform.
Differences from ASP.NET MVC:
 Cross-Platform: ASP.NET Core MVC can run on Windows, Linux,
and macOS, whereas ASP.NET MVC is limited to Windows.
 Performance: ASP.NET Core is designed for high performance,
benefiting from the Kestrel web server and various optimizations.
  Modularity: ASP.NET Core introduces a modular HTTP request
pipeline, allowing developers to add only the components they
need, enhancing performance and simplification.
 Configuration: Configuration is more flexible and cloud-optimized
in ASP.NET Core, supporting JSON, XML, and other formats, rather
than being limited to Web.config.
 Dependency Injection: Built-in support for dependency injection
in ASP.NET Core MVC, whereas ASP.NET MVC requires third-party
libraries for this.
Explain the MVC architecture.
The MVC architecture divides an application into three interconnected
components, each with specific responsibilities:
 Model: Represents the data and the business logic of the
application. It is responsible for accessing and storing data and
defining the business rules.
 View: Responsible for displaying the user interface and presenting
data to the user. It displays the model data and sends user actions
(e.g., button clicks) to the controller.
 Controller: Acts as an intermediary between the Model and the
View. It processes incoming requests, performs operations on the
model, and selects a view to render the UI.
This separation helps manage complexity, enabling more efficient
development and testing of applications.

What are the advantages of using ASP.NET Core MVC?

 Cross-Platform: Develop and deploy on Windows, Linux, or
macOS.
 High Performance: Optimized for speed and scalable applications.
 Modularity: Only include necessary components, reducing
overhead.
 Support for Modern Web Development: Built-in support for
modern UI frameworks and Web APIs.
 Robust Ecosystem: Access to a wide range of libraries and tools.
  Built-in Dependency Injection: Simplifies application
development and testing.
 Security: Enhanced security features and best practices to protect
applications.

Describe the role of a Controller in an MVC application.

In an MVC application, a Controller handles user interactions, works with
the Model to perform operations, and selects a View to render that
displays the UI. The controller responds to user input, interacts with the
model to retrieve data or execute business logic, and then passes that
data to the view for presentation.

How does routing work in ASP.NET Core MVC?

Routing in ASP.NET Core MVC maps incoming requests to controller
actions. It uses route templates defined in the startup configuration to
determine the controller and action method to execute based on the URL.
Routes can be configured using attribute routing on controllers and
actions or by defining routes in the Program.cs file. This allows developers
to design custom URL patterns that are readable and meaningful.

What is Dependency Injection, and how is it implemented in

ASP.NET Core?
Dependency Injection (DI) is a design pattern that allows for the creation
of loosely coupled components. In ASP.NET Core, DI is built into the
framework, allowing services to be injected into classes rather than being
tightly coupled. This is implemented using a container that manages the
lifetimes of objects and their dependencies. You define services in the
Program.cs file and the framework takes care of creating and injecting
instances where needed.

Explain the concept of Middleware in the context of ASP.NET

Core.
Middleware in ASP.NET Core are components that are assembled into an
application pipeline to handle requests and responses. Each component
performs operations before and/or after the next component. Middleware
can perform a wide range of tasks, such as authentication, routing,
logging, and serving static files. You configure the middleware pipeline in
the Program.cs file.

What are Action Methods in MVC?

Action methods in MVC are methods within a controller that respond to
HTTP requests. They are responsible for executing the logic needed to
process the request and generate a response, which could be a view, a
file, a redirect, or a JSON response for APIs. The framework maps incoming
requests to action methods based on the route data and HTTP method.

How do you pass data from a Controller to a View?

In ASP.NET MVC, data can be passed from a Controller to a View using
several methods, including ViewData, ViewBag, and TempData, as well as
strongly typed views using model binding. Here’s a brief overview of each:
 ViewData is a dictionary object that allows data to be passed from
the controller to the view. It requires typecasting for complex data
types and checks for null values to avoid runtime errors.
 ViewBag uses dynamic properties to hold the data. It’s a wrapper
over ViewData, providing a more dynamic feature but sharing the
same limitations, such as the need for typecasting and null checks.
 TempData is used to pass data from the current request to the next
request. It’s based on session state and is helpful for redirect
scenarios.

What is Razor Syntax?

Razor is a markup syntax for embedding server-based code into
webpages. The Razor syntax allows for quick and more natural coding in
ASP.NET web pages (.cshtml files) with C# or VB.Net. It combines markup
with C# or VB directly in the same file, with a minimalistic syntax that
reduces the amount of code required for common tasks. Razor pages are
processed on the server before they’re sent to the browser.

Describe ViewData, ViewBag, and TempData.

 ViewData: A dictionary object that is derived from the
ViewDataDictionary class. It’s used to pass data from a controller to
a view. It requires casting for complex types and checking for null
values, as it can hold data of any type.
 ViewBag: A dynamic property that provides a dynamic view over
the ViewData. Since it’s dynamic, it doesn’t require typecasting, but
you still need to check for null values. It’s a more flexible and
cleaner way to pass data to the view, though it has the same
limitations regarding the lifespan of data as ViewData.
 TempData: Used to pass data from one action method to another
within the same or a different controller. TempData is also stored in
ViewDataDictionary, but it’s intended for temporary data that needs
to be retained until it’s read. TempData uses session variables for
storage and is useful for redirect scenarios, where data needs to be
preserved between requests.

What are View Components?

View Components in ASP.NET MVC are similar to partial views, but they’re
much more powerful. They allow for the creation of reusable components
(or widgets) that can encapsulate rendering logic and data access
separately from the main views and controllers. A view component
includes two main parts: the class (usually derived from ViewComponent)
that contains the logic to generate the data needed for the view and the
view itself, which renders the UI. View components are invoked within
views using the Component.InvokeAsync method and can be used to
create dynamic elements in web applications, such as a shopping cart,
recent articles list, or a login panel, without tightly coupling the view to a
specific model or controller logic.

How do you perform form validation in ASP.NET Core MVC?

Form validation in ASP.NET Core MVC can be achieved using Data
Annotations and the built-in validation support in the framework. You can
decorate model properties with validation attributes like [Required],
[StringLength], [Range], etc. The framework automatically validates
incoming data against these annotations when the model is passed to an
action method, and it populates ModelState with any validation errors.
You can check ModelState.IsValid in your controller actions to determine if
the data is valid.

Explain the use of the [Authorize] attribute.

The [Authorize] attribute is used to enforce authorization on MVC
controllers and actions. It ensures that only authenticated users can
access certain parts of your application. You can also use it with roles or
policies to authorize based on more specific criteria, like user roles or
permissions.

What is the difference between AddSingleton, AddScoped, and

AddTransient services?
 AddSingleton: Registers a service as a singleton, which means a
single instance of the service is created and shared throughout the
application’s lifetime.
 AddScoped: Registers a service with a scope lifetime, which means
a new instance is created for each request but shared within a
single request.
 AddTransient: Registers a service with a transient lifetime,
meaning a new instance is created every time the service is
requested.

How does ASP.NET Core handle exceptions?

ASP.NET Core handles exceptions using middleware, such as the built-in
Developer Exception Page for development environments and the
Exception Handler Middleware for production. You can also create custom
exception handling middleware or use filters like the
ExceptionFilterAttribute for more granular control over exception handling
within MVC actions.

What are Filters in ASP.NET Core MVC? Give examples.

Filters in ASP.NET Core MVC allow you to run code before or after specific
stages in the request processing pipeline, such as authorization, action
execution, and result processing. Examples include:
 Authorization filters ([Authorize]): Check if a user is authorized
to perform an action.
 Action filters (OnActionExecuting,
OnActionExecuted): Execute code before or after an action
method runs.
 Exception filters ([ExceptionFilter]): Handle exceptions thrown
by action methods.

What is the purpose of the appsettings.json file?

The appsettings.json file is used for configuration in ASP.NET Core
applications. It stores configuration data, such as connection strings,
logging settings, and application-specific settings, in a JSON format. This
file can be environment-specific, allowing for different settings in
development, testing, and production environments.

How do you secure an ASP.NET Core MVC application?

Securing an ASP.NET Core MVC application involves multiple strategies,
including:
 Using the [Authorize] attribute to protect resources.
 Implementing secure authentication mechanisms (e.g., ASP.NET
Core Identity for login functionality).
 Applying HTTPS to ensure encrypted data transmission.
  Preventing Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request
Forgery (CSRF) attacks.
 Managing user permissions and roles effectively.

Explain CORS. How do you enable it in ASP.NET Core?

CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) is a security feature that allows or
restricts web applications from making requests to domains other than
their own. In ASP.NET Core, you can enable CORS by configuring the CORS
middleware in the Program.cs file. You use the AddCors method to define
a policy and UseCors to apply it, specifying which origins, headers, and
methods are allowed.

What is the difference between a synchronous and asynchronous

action method?
A synchronous action method blocks the thread it runs on until it
completes its execution, which can lead to poor performance under high
load. An asynchronous action method, on the other hand, uses async and
await keywords to free up the thread for other tasks while awaiting
asynchronous operations, leading to better scalability and responsiveness.

How do you manage sessions in ASP.NET Core?

Sessions in ASP.NET Core are managed using the session middleware,
which stores session data on the server and identifies sessions using a
cookie sent to the browser. You can configure session behavior in the
Startup.cs file, and then use HttpContext.Session to set or get session
data within your controllers.

Explain how to use Areas in ASP.NET Core MVC to organize a large

application.
Areas provide a way to partition a large ASP.NET Core MVC application
into smaller functional groups, each with its own set of controllers, views,
and models. You define areas by creating a folder structure within your
project and decorating controllers with the [Area(“AreaName”)] attribute.
This helps organize and manage large applications by grouping related
functionalities.

What is Entity Framework Core?

Entity Framework Core (EF Core) is an open-source, lightweight,
extensible version of Entity Framework, a popular Object-Relational
Mapping (ORM) framework for .NET. EF Core enables .NET developers to
work with a database using .NET objects, eliminating the need for most of
the data-access code that developers usually need to write. It supports
LINQ queries, change tracking, updates, and schema migrations.

What is the use of Program.cs file?

The Program.cs file serves as the entry point for an ASP.NET Core
application. It contains the Main method, which kicks off the execution of
the application. The primary responsibilities of the Program.cs file have
evolved with different versions of ASP.NET Core, but generally, it’s where
the application’s host is configured and built. In ASP.NET Core
applications, the host is responsible for app startup and lifetime
management.
Key responsibilities and features of the Program.cs file includes:
 Building the Web Host: It specifies how the application should
start and configure services needed by the app. This includes
setting up the web server (e.g., Kestrel), loading app configurations
from various sources (like appsettings.json, environment variables),
and configuring logging.
 Configuring Services: It allows you to add services to the
dependency injection (DI) container through the IServiceCollection.
This includes framework services (like MVC, Razor Pages), your own
application services, and third-party services.
 Middleware Configuration: Although the actual configuration of
middleware happens in the Startup.cs file’s Configure method, the
Program.cs file sets the stage for this configuration by establishing
the application’s host which the Startup.cs utilizes.
  Configuring Application Settings: It’s responsible for configuring
app settings and environments, which can influence how the
application behaves under different conditions (development,
staging, production).
 Running the Application: Finally, it includes the code to run the
web application, which listens for incoming HTTP requests.

Describe how to implement API Versioning in ASP.NET Core.

API versioning in ASP.NET Core can be implemented using
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Versioning package. After installing this
package, you can configure versioning in the Startup.cs file by adding
services for API versioning in the ConfigureServices method. You can
specify the versioning scheme (e.g., query string, URL path, header, or
media type) and default version. Controllers or actions can then be
decorated with version attributes (e.g., [ApiVersion(“1.0”)]).

How do you enable logging in ASP.NET Core?

Logging in ASP.NET Core is configured in the Program.cs file using the
ILoggingBuilder interface. You can specify different logging providers
(e.g., Console, Debug, EventSource, EventLog) and set the minimum
logging levels. The logging framework is built-in and supports a default set
of logging providers, but you can also add third-party providers.

What is the significance of the wwwroot folder in ASP.NET Core?

The wwwroot folder in ASP.NET Core is the web root folder that contains
static assets such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and image files. It is the root
directory for public static content served by the application. Files in this
folder can be served directly to clients unless specifically restricted by the
application configuration.
Explain the differences between the SQL Server and SQLite
extensions for Entity Framework Core.
The SQL Server and SQLite extensions for Entity Framework Core provide
the necessary functionality to interact with their respective databases.
The main differences lie in their intended use cases (SQL Server for full-
scale production databases and SQLite for lightweight, local, and
embedded databases), syntax differences for certain SQL operations, and
support for different features and data types specific to each database
engine.

What is a Partial View in ASP.NET Core MVC?

A Partial View in ASP.NET Core MVC is a reusable view component that
can be embedded within other views. It is used to break down large views
into smaller, manageable components. Partial views are rendered using
the Html.Partial or Html.RenderPartial methods and can be used to display
reusable content or widgets across multiple views.

How do you handle file uploads in ASP.NET Core MVC?

File uploads in ASP.NET Core MVC can be handled using the IFormFile
interface in action methods. The HTML form must include
enctype=”multipart/form-data” attribute. Within the action method, you
can access uploaded files through parameters of type IFormFile and use
methods like CopyTo or CopyToAsync to save the files to the server.

What is SignalR, and how is it used in ASP.NET Core?

SignalR is a library for ASP.NET Core that enables real-time web
functionality, allowing server-side code to push content to clients
instantly. It is used for developing applications that require high-frequency
updates from the server, such as chat applications, real-time dashboards,
or live notifications. SignalR abstracts various transport mechanisms and
provides a simple API for connection management, broadcasting
messages, and handling events.

How do you implement WebSockets in ASP.NET Core?

WebSockets in ASP.NET Core are implemented by enabling the WebSocket
protocol in the Program.cs file within the Configure method using the
app.UseWebSockets extension method. You then handle WebSocket
requests by accepting a WebSocket connection and performing read/write
operations on the WebSocket instance.

What are Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC?

Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC are server-side code that participates in
creating and rendering HTML elements in Razor views. They enable a
clean and server-side way to generate and configure HTML elements,
enhancing the development workflow by providing a more HTML-like
experience for Razor markup. Tag Helpers are used to create forms and
links, load resources, and more.

How do you customize the built-in Identity framework?

The built-in Identity framework in ASP.NET Core can be customized by
extending identity models (e.g., ApplicationUser), implementing custom
validation, and configuring Identity options (password strength, lockout
settings, etc.) in the Startup.cs file. You can also override default
behaviors by providing custom implementations for interfaces provided by
the Identity framework.

What is the role of the IApplicationBuilder interface?

The IApplicationBuilder interface is used in the Configure method of the
Startup.cs file to configure the HTTP request pipeline of an ASP.NET Core
application. Middleware components are added to the application pipeline
using extension methods on IApplicationBuilder, defining how the
application responds to HTTP requests. The order of middleware
registration is significant as it dictates the order of execution for request
processing and response generation.

How do you perform unit testing in an ASP.NET Core MVC

application?
Unit testing in ASP.NET Core MVC applications involves testing individual
components or units of the application in isolation, typically using a
testing framework like xUnit, NUnit, or MSTest. You create test methods to
verify the behavior of your application’s methods, focusing on logic
contained within controllers, services, and other parts of the application.
Using dependency injection, you can mock dependencies to these units,
such as database contexts or custom services, to ensure tests run in
isolation without requiring external resources.

What is the difference between an IActionResult and a

ViewResult?
IActionResult is an interface that represents the result of an action
method in ASP.NET Core MVC. It’s a way to abstract the type of response
from the action method. ViewResult is a concrete implementation of
IActionResult that represents a view being returned to the user. While
IActionResult allows for flexibility in the type of result (views, file
downloads, redirects, etc.), ViewResult is specifically used when the
response is a view.

How do you implement custom error pages in ASP.NET Core MVC?

Custom error pages can be implemented using the
UseStatusCodePagesWithReExecute middleware in the Configure method
of Startup.cs. This middleware intercepts responses with specific status
codes (like 404 or 500) and re-executes the request pipeline using a
specified path to a controller action or page that renders the custom error
view.

Explain the role of the IHostingEnvironment interface.

The IHostingEnvironment interface, now replaced by
IWebHostEnvironment in ASP.NET Core 3.0, and later provides information
about the web hosting environment an application is running in. It
includes properties for determining the environment name (Development,
Staging, Production, etc.), checking if the application is in a development
environment, and accessing the content root and webroot file paths. It’s
useful for configuring services and behaviors differently based on the
environment.

What is Dependency Injection’s role in configuring logging?

Dependency Injection (DI) in ASP.NET Core is used to inject instances of
logging services into classes, such as controllers or custom services,
throughout an application. By configuring logging providers (e.g., console,
debug, event source) in the Main method of the Program.cs, you make
these services available for DI. This allows for flexible and decoupled
logging configurations that can be easily modified or extended.

How do you use environment variables in ASP.NET Core?

Environment variables in ASP.NET Core are used to store configuration
settings that may vary between different environments (development,
staging, production). You can access these variables using the
IConfiguration interface, which is typically injected into classes where
configuration settings are needed. Environment variables can be set in
various ways, including in the operating system, through the
launchSettings.json file for development, or using the appsettings.
{Environment}.json configuration files.

What is the Kestrel web server, and how does it differ from IIS?
Kestrel is a cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core applications. It’s
lightweight and can be run directly from the command line or as a service.
Unlike IIS, which is a Windows-only web server and operates as a reverse
proxy, Kestrel can run as an edge server exposed to the internet or behind
a reverse proxy like IIS, Nginx, or Apache. Kestrel is designed to be fast
and supports full ASP.NET Core feature set.

How do you implement globalization and localization in ASP.NET

Core MVC?
Globalization and localization involve designing applications with support
for multiple cultures and languages. In ASP.NET Core MVC, this is achieved
by using resource files for different languages and cultures, configuring
services in Startup.cs to support requested cultures, and using
IStringLocalizer<T> or IViewLocalizer to retrieve localized strings in
controllers and views, respectively.

What are static files in ASP.NET Core, and how do you serve
them?
Static files are files that are not processed by the server (like HTML, CSS,
JavaScript, and images). To serve static files in ASP.NET Core, use the
UseStaticFiles middleware in the Configure method of Startup.cs. This
middleware enables static files to be served from the web root (wwwroot)
directory by default, but you can also configure it to serve files from other
directories.

Describe the process of database migration in Entity Framework

Core.
Database migration in Entity Framework Core involves using the EF Core
tools to generate code that can update the database schema to match the
current state of your model classes. This is done by creating a series of
migration files that represent incremental changes to the database
structure. You can apply migrations to update the database schema using
the Update-Database command in the Package Manager Console or
dotnet ef database update command in the CLI.

What is the purpose of the ConfigureServices method in the

Startup.cs file?
The ConfigureServices method in Startup.cs is used to configure services
that will be used by the application through dependency injection. This
includes configuring options for built-in services (like MVC, Entity
Framework Core, and Identity), registering custom application services,
and setting up configurations for aspects like logging, database contexts,
and more.

How do you optimize the performance of an ASP.NET Core MVC

application?
Optimizing the performance of an ASP.NET Core MVC application involves
several strategies, including but not limited to, implementing response
caching, minimizing the use of synchronous operations, optimizing
database access and queries, using the latest version of .NET Core and
ASP.NET Core, enabling gzip or Brotli compression for responses,
optimizing static files delivery, and avoiding unnecessary middleware in
the request pipeline. Monitoring and profiling the application can help
identify and address specific performance bottlenecks.

ASP.NET Core MVC Intermediate Interview Questions and Answers

How do you use the IConfiguration interface in ASP.NET Core?
The IConfiguration interface in ASP.NET Core is used to read settings from
various configuration sources like appsettings.json, environment
variables, command-line arguments, etc. It is typically injected into
classes using Dependency Injection. You can access specific configuration
values by using the GetSection, GetValue<T>, or indexing
([“Section:Subsection:Key”]) methods.

What is Model Validation in ASP.NET Core MVC, and how is it

implemented?
Model Validation in ASP.NET Core MVC ensures that incoming data
adheres to the expected format and rules before a controller action is
executed. It is implemented using Data Annotations on model properties
(e.g., [Required], [StringLength(50)]) and the ModelState.IsValid checks
within a controller action to verify if the model passed to the action meets
all validation rules.

Explain the role and use of the app.UseMvc() middleware.

The app.UseMvc() middleware is used in the ASP.NET Core request
pipeline to enable MVC (Model-View-Controller) capabilities. It configures
routing for MVC and API controllers. With ASP.NET Core 3.x and later, the
recommended approach is to use app.UseEndpoints(endpoints =>
{ endpoints.MapControllerRoute(…); }) instead for more flexible routing.

How can you implement Dependency Injection without the built-in

container in ASP.NET Core?
To implement Dependency Injection without the built-in container, you
can integrate a third-party container like Autofac or StructureMap. This
involves setting up the third-party container in the ConfigureServices
method of the Startup class and then using the container’s specific
methods to register and resolve dependencies.

Describe the process of implementing a custom Tag Helper in

ASP.NET Core.
Implementing a custom Tag Helper involves creating a class that inherits
from TagHelper and overriding the Process or ProcessAsync method to
manipulate the output. The class must be decorated with the
[HtmlTargetElement] attribute to define which HTML elements it targets.
Finally, add the Tag Helper to the view using the @addTagHelper
directive.

What are the differences between ActionResult and

IActionResult?
ActionResult is an abstract class that can represent various HTTP
responses (e.g., ViewResult, FileResult). IActionResult is an interface that
ActionResult and other non-ActionResult types (like JsonResult)
implement, providing a more flexible way to return different types of
responses from controller actions.

How do you manage application settings and configurations

across different environments?
ASP.NET Core uses an environment-based configuration system where you
can have different appsettings files (e.g., appsettings.Development.json,
appsettings.Production.json) for different environments. The appropriate
settings file is selected based on the current environment, which can be
set through the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT environment variable.

Explain the concept of Razor Pages in ASP.NET Core.

Razor Pages is a page-based programming model that makes building
web UI easier and more productive. Razor Pages are built on top of MVC,
and each page is associated with a page model class. It simplifies the web
application structure by eliminating the need for a separate controller.

How do you use Data Annotations in ASP.NET Core?

Data Annotations are used in ASP.NET Core to provide declarative data
validation and formatting over model properties. You can annotate model
properties with attributes like [Required], [EmailAddress], [Range], etc., to
specify the rules that the data must conform to.

What is the purpose of the launchSettings.json file?

The launchSettings.json file in ASP.NET Core projects specifies the
configuration settings used by Visual Studio and the dotnet run command
for launching the application. It includes settings for different
environments, such as development, staging, and production, and can
specify environment variables, application URLs, and other launch
parameters.

Describe how to implement social authentication in ASP.NET Core.

To implement social authentication, you first need to register your
application with the social identity providers (e.g., Google, Facebook,
Twitter) to obtain the client ID and secret. Then, in your ASP.NET Core
application, configure the authentication middleware using
services.AddAuthentication().AddGoogle() or similar methods in the
ConfigureServices method of your Startup class, passing in the client ID
and secret.

How do you perform database seeding in Entity Framework Core?

Database seeding in Entity Framework Core can be performed by
overriding the OnModelCreating method in your DbContext class and
using the modelBuilder.Entity<Type>().HasData() method to specify the
seed data. Alternatively, you can create a custom migration that includes
SQL commands to insert the initial data into the database.

What is the role of the ConfigureServices method in the Startup

class?
The ConfigureServices method in the Startup class is where you register
services needed by your application with the dependency injection
container. ASP.NET Core comes with built-in support for dependency
injection, allowing you to add application services to the container and
then consume them in your application via constructor injection. Services
like Entity Framework contexts, MVC/Razor page services, logging, and
many others are configured here.

Explain the significance of the async and await keywords in

ASP.NET Core MVC actions.
The async and await keywords are used to make asynchronous operations
in .NET. In the context of ASP.NET Core MVC actions, they allow for non-
blocking I/O operations, enhancing the scalability of web applications by
freeing up threads to serve other requests while waiting for I/O operations
like database calls or API requests to complete. This leads to better
resource utilization and the ability to handle more concurrent requests.

How do you configure and use static files in ASP.NET Core

applications?
Static files (like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images) are served through
the Static File Middleware in ASP.NET Core. To use static files, you need to
add the middleware to your application’s request processing pipeline
using the UseStaticFiles extension method in the Configure method of
your Startup class. You can also configure options to serve static files from
specific folders or to enable directory browsing.

What are environment tags in ASP.NET Core?

Environment tags, specifically <environment> tags in Razor views, allow
you to conditionally render content based on the hosting environment
(e.g., Development, Staging, Production). This is useful for including
different scripts or stylesheets depending on whether the application is in
development or production.

Describe the process of creating and using a custom middleware

component.
Creating a custom middleware in ASP.NET Core involves defining a class
with the Invoke or InvokeAsync method that takes HttpContext as a
parameter and optionally returns a Task. The middleware can then be
added to the application’s request processing pipeline using the
UseMiddleware<> extension method in the Configure method of the
Startup class. Middleware components can handle requests, terminate
them, or pass them to the next component in the pipeline.

How do you implement API authentication using JWT in ASP.NET

Core?
To implement JWT (JSON Web Tokens) authentication in ASP.NET Core,
you first need to configure the JWT authentication scheme by adding it to
the service collection in the ConfigureServices method using the
AddAuthentication method. You specify the token parameters like issuer,
audience, and the key used to sign the token. Then, apply the [Authorize]
attribute to your controllers or actions where you want to enforce
authentication.

Explain the use of IOptions to access configuration settings.

IOptions is an interface in ASP.NET Core that allows you to access strongly
typed settings from configuration sources (like appsettings.json,
environment variables). You define a class that matches the configuration
structure and then register it with the dependency injection container
using the Configure method. This way, you can inject IOptions<T> into
your classes, where T is your configuration class, to access the settings.

What is the difference between AddMvc() and AddMvcCore()

extensions?
AddMvc() and AddMvcCore() are extension methods used to register MVC
services in the application’s service container. AddMvc() adds all the
essential MVC services plus additional features like Razor Pages,
Authorization, and Data Annotations. AddMvcCore() adds only the core
MVC services, allowing for more fine-grained control over the services you
include in your application, which can be beneficial for performance or
when you need a minimal setup.

How do you handle multiple environments in ASP.NET Core, such

as development, staging, and production?
ASP.NET Core uses the IWebHostEnvironment interface to provide
information about the web hosting environment. You can inject
IWebHostEnvironment into your classes and use it to conditionally execute
code based on the EnvironmentName property. Additionally, ASP.NET
Core supports environment-specific configuration files (e.g.,
appsettings.Production.json) and environment variables to configure the
application differently across environments.

Describe how to use the [ValidateAntiForgeryToken] attribute.

The [ValidateAntiForgeryToken] attribute is used to prevent cross-site
request forgery (CSRF) attacks. When applied to an action method, a
request must include a valid anti-forgery token. This token is
automatically included in forms generated using the form tag helper or
the Html.AntiForgeryToken() helper in Razor views. The validation of the
token ensures that the request originates from the same site, protecting
against CSRF attacks.

How do you customize and handle logging in ASP.NET Core?

ASP.NET Core uses a logging API that works with various logging providers
(like console, debug, EventSource, and third-party loggers). You can
configure logging in the ConfigureServices method of the Startup class by
calling AddLogging and setting up the desired logging providers and
filters. You can also create custom logging providers by implementing the
ILoggerProvider interface.

What are some common performance optimizations in ASP.NET

Core applications?
Common performance optimizations in ASP.NET Core include:
 Using response caching to reduce the number of requests that need
to be fully processed.
 Minimizing the use of synchronous operations to avoid blocking
threads.
 Implementing asynchronous I/O operations for data access and
external calls.
 Optimizing static file delivery through response compression and
caching headers.
  Reducing the use of middleware components that are not necessary
for processing certain requests.

Explain how to secure APIs in ASP.NET Core.

Securing APIs in ASP.NET Core can be achieved through various methods,
including:
 Implementing authentication and authorization using JWT, OAuth, or
OpenID Connect.
 Using HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
 Applying the [Authorize] attribute to controllers and actions to
enforce access controls.
 Validating input to protect against SQL injection and XSS attacks.
 Use CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) policies to control how
your API is accessed from different origins.

What is Endpoint Routing in ASP.NET Core 3.0 and above?

Endpoint Routing was introduced in ASP.NET Core 3.0 to enable more
efficient routing decisions and to provide a mechanism to configure
routing information directly on the endpoints. It allows for more granular
control over how requests are routed to different handlers and supports
the application of middleware based on routing information. It improves
the performance of routing decisions and makes the routing system more
flexible and extensible.

Describe how to implement custom validation attributes.

Custom validation attributes in ASP.NET Core can be implemented by
inheriting from the ValidationAttribute class and overriding the IsValid
method. The IsValid method contains the logic to validate the input value.
You can also add error messages and other validation logic within this
method. Once implemented, the custom validation attribute can be
applied to model properties to enforce custom validation rules.

How do you handle exceptions globally in ASP.NET Core MVC?

Global exception handling in ASP.NET Core MVC can be achieved by
configuring the middleware pipeline to use the built-in
UseExceptionHandler extension method. This method can redirect to a
specified path or to an error-handling controller action when an unhandled
exception occurs. Additionally, for more granular control, you can
implement an IExceptionFilter or use the UseDeveloperExceptionPage
method during development for detailed error information.

What is the purpose of the IWebHostEnvironment interface?

The IWebHostEnvironment interface provides information about the web
hosting environment in which an application runs. It includes properties
for accessing the application’s content root and webroot paths and helps
to determine the environment name (e.g., Development, Staging,
Production). This is useful for configuring services and behaviors
differently based on the environment.

Explain how to use configuration providers in ASP.NET Core.

Configuration providers in ASP.NET Core are used to read configuration
settings from various sources (e.g., files, environment variables,
command-line arguments). You can use these providers by adding them
to the configuration builder in the Startup class. ASP.NET Core supports a
variety of configuration providers, and you can also implement custom
providers if needed. The configuration system is hierarchical, allowing for
settings to be overridden by different sources.

How do you manage user roles and permissions in ASP.NET Core?

User roles and permissions in ASP.NET Core can be managed using the
built-in Identity framework. This framework provides support for role-
based authorization, where you can assign users to roles and then apply
authorization policies based on these roles. You can also implement more
complex permission systems by extending the Identity framework or
integrating with third-party services.
Describe how to configure CORS policies in services.
Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) policies in ASP.NET Core can be
configured in the Startup class by using the AddCors method in the
ConfigureServices method. You can define named CORS policies with
specific settings (e.g., allowed origins, headers, methods) and then apply
these policies globally or on a per-endpoint basis using the UseCors
middleware.

How do you implement file download functionality in ASP.NET

Core?
File download functionality in ASP.NET Core can be implemented by
returning a FileResult from an action method. You can use the File method
to generate this result, specifying the file’s content, content type, and file
name. This method supports serving files from the file system, a byte
array, or a stream.

What is the significance of the _ViewImports.cshtml file?

The _ViewImports.cshtml file is used to define common Razor directives
that are imported into every Razor view in the same directory and its
subdirectories. It can include @using statements for namespaces, @inject
directives for dependency injection, and @addTagHelper directives. This
file helps to reduce code duplication across views.

Explain the use of appsettings.json and how to access its values.

appsettings.json is a JSON configuration file in ASP.NET Core used to store
application settings, such as connection strings, logging configuration, and
custom application settings. You can access its values anywhere in your
application by injecting the IConfiguration interface and using it to retrieve
settings using the GetValue<T>, GetSection, or the indexer [] methods.
Settings can be organized into hierarchical sections to group related
settings together.
How do you implement custom logging providers in ASP.NET
Core?
To implement a custom logging provider in ASP.NET Core, you need to
create a class that implements the ILoggerProvider interface and possibly
another class that implements the ILogger interface. The provider class is
responsible for creating instances of your logger class. You then register
your custom provider with the logging system by calling the AddProvider
method on the ILoggingBuilder instance, which can be accessed in the
ConfigureLogging method of the WebHostBuilder or the ConfigureServices
method in the Startup class. Your logger class should contain the logic for
storing or displaying log messages as required by your application.

Describe the process to create and use extension methods in

ASP.NET Core.
Extension methods allow you to add new methods to existing types
without modifying them. In ASP.NET Core, you might create extension
methods for IApplicationBuilder, IServiceCollection, or other core types to
simplify configuration or add custom functionality.
 To create an extension method, define a static class and method,
with the first parameter being this, followed by the type you’re
extending. For example, extending IApplicationBuilder for custom
middleware.
 To use an extension method, simply call it on an instance of the
type you’ve extended as if it were an instance method.

What are the best practices for securing sensitive data in

ASP.NET Core applications?
 Use the Data Protection API to encrypt sensitive data.
 Store secrets securely using mechanisms like environment
variables, Azure Key Vault, or the Secret Manager tool during
development.
 Use HTTPS to secure data in transit.
 Implement secure authentication and authorization.
  Regularly update dependencies to mitigate vulnerabilities.

How do you use attribute routing in ASP.NET Core?

Attribute routing enables specifying routes directly on controllers and
actions by using attributes. To use it, apply the [Route], [HttpGet],
[HttpPost], etc., attributes to controllers and actions, specifying the
template strings that define URLs.

What is the difference between UseAuthentication,

UseAuthorization, and UseSession middleware?
 UseAuthentication adds the authentication middleware to the
request pipeline, which authenticates users.
 UseAuthorization adds authorization middleware, which authorizes
users based on the authentication performed earlier in the pipeline.
 UseSession adds session middleware, allowing for storing user data
between requests. Sessions differ from authentication and
authorization but can be used in conjunction with them to maintain
user state.

How do you implement background tasks in ASP.NET Core?

Use hosted services or background tasks with IHostedService or
BackgroundService. These services can be registered in the application’s
service container and are started and stopped with the application.

Explain the purpose and use of the Health Checks API in ASP.NET
Core.
The Health Checks API is used to check the health of an application and its
dependencies, such as databases and external services. It’s useful for
automated monitoring and readiness/liveness checks in microservices
architectures. You implement health checks by registering them in the
startup configuration and accessing them via a specified endpoint.
How do you deploy an ASP.NET Core application to a Linux
server?
Deployment typically involves:
 Publishing the application from the development environment.
 Transferring the published application to the Linux server.
 Setting up a web server like Nginx or Apache as a reverse proxy to
forward requests to the Kestrel web server used by ASP.NET Core.
 Configuring the server and application for production, including
environment variables, logging, and service management (e.g.,
using systemd).

What are the benefits and scenarios for using SignalR in an

application?
SignalR facilitates adding real-time web functionality, enabling server-side
code to push content to clients instantly. It’s ideal for chat applications,
real-time dashboards, notifications, and any scenario where you need
instant communication between the server and clients.

How do you configure HTTPS and SSL in ASP.NET Core?

Configuring HTTPS and SSL involves:
 Acquiring an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA).
 Configuring the web server (e.g., Kestrel, IIS, Nginx) to use the
certificate.
 Enforcing HTTPS in your application by using the
UseHttpsRedirection middleware.

What is Response Caching, and how do you implement it?

Response caching reduces the number of requests a server must process
by storing copies of previously requested resources. Implement it using
the ResponseCaching middleware and configure caching settings with
attributes like [ResponseCache] on controllers or actions.
Describe how to use the ProblemDetails class to handle API
errors.
ProblemDetails is a class for representing errors in a machine-readable
format. It’s used with the IActionResult returned from controllers to
provide detailed error information in a standardized way, making it easier
for clients to understand and handle errors.

What is the difference between services.AddSingleton(),

services.AddScoped(), and services.AddTransient()?
 AddSingleton() creates a single instance of the service for the
application’s lifetime.
 AddScoped() creates an instance of the service for each request.
 AddTransient() creates a new instance of the service each time it is
requested.

How do you implement real-time web functionality using SignalR

in ASP.NET Core?
Implementing real-time functionality with SignalR involves:
 Adding the SignalR library to your project.
 Creating a hub class that extends Hub, which acts as a high-level
pipeline handling client-server communication.
 Configuring SignalR routes in your startup class.
 Connecting clients to the hub using the SignalR JavaScript client or
other client SDKs, allowing for two-way communication between the
server and connected clients.

ASP.NET Core MVC Experienced Interview Questions and Answers

Explain the startup process of an ASP.NET Core application.

The startup process of an ASP.NET Core application begins with the
Program.cs file, which sets up the host. The host is responsible for app
startup and lifetime management. The next significant step is in the
Program.cs file, where you configure services needed by your app and set
up your app’s request processing pipeline with middleware in the Main
method.

How does the ASP.NET Core request pipeline work?

The request pipeline in ASP.NET Core is composed of a series of
middleware components. Each component performs operations on an
HttpContext and either calls the next middleware in the sequence or
terminates the request. The pipeline is configured in the Main method of
the Program.cs file. Middleware can handle tasks like routing,
authentication, and serving static files.

Describe the purpose and use of the Startup.cs file in ASP.NET

Core.
The Startup.cs file is used to configure services and the request
processing pipeline. In the ConfigureServices method, you add services to
the DI container. The Configure method is where you define the
middleware that handles requests. This setup allows for configuring how
the app responds to HTTP requests and integrating essential services like
Entity Framework Core, MVC, Identity, etc.

What are the benefits of using ASP.NET Core over ASP.NET?

ASP.NET Core offers several advantages over ASP.NET, including:
 Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS).
 A lightweight, high-performance, and modular HTTP request
pipeline.
 Built-in dependency injection.
 A unified story for building web UI and APIs.
 Support for hosting in Docker containers.
 Improved support for asynchronous programming.

What is the difference between ActionResult and IActionResult in

MVC controllers?
ActionResult is an abstract class from which many result types inherit
(e.g., ViewResult, FileResult). IActionResult is an interface that all action
results implement, providing more flexibility in returning different types of
responses from controller actions. Using IActionResult allows for returning
various types of action results, enabling more dynamic responses to HTTP
requests.

How can you achieve dependency injection in ASP.NET Core

controllers?
Dependency injection in ASP.NET Core is achieved primarily through
constructor injection. You define the dependencies in the constructor of a
controller, and the ASP.NET Core framework’s built-in dependency
injection system provides the required services at runtime. Services are
registered in the Main method of the Program.cs file.

Explain how to use attribute routing in ASP.NET Core.

Attribute routing is enabled by decorating controllers and actions with
attributes that define routes. The [Route] attribute can be applied to a
controller or an action to specify the URL pattern it should handle. This
allows for more granular and expressive routing compared to conventional
routing and supports defining routes directly on the actions and
controllers.

Describe the Razor syntax and its benefits in MVC views.

Razor is a markup syntax for embedding server-based code into
webpages. The Razor syntax is compact, expressive, and clean, making it
easy to mix server code with HTML. Benefits include the ability to use C#
in views, IntelliSense support in Visual Studio, and the ability to create
reusable, dynamic web UI components.

How do you implement layouts, view starts, and view imports in

Razor?
Layouts are used to define a common site template (e.g., header, footer).
You specify a layout in a Razor view using @Layout.
 ViewStart files (_ViewStart.cshtml) contain code that is executed for
every view. It’s often used to set the layout.
 ViewImports (_ViewImports.cshtml) allows you to import
namespaces and add tag helpers globally to views, so you don’t
need to do it in every view.

Explain the role of ViewComponents and when to use them over

partial views.
ViewComponents are similar to partial views, but they’re more powerful,
allowing for the encapsulation of both logic and display. They can execute
code to generate their model before rendering. Use ViewComponents
when you need to perform complex logic or data fetching before
rendering a part of a page, which goes beyond the capabilities of partial
views.

What is the difference between Entity Framework Core and Entity

Framework 6?
Entity Framework Core is a lightweight, extensible, and cross-platform
version of Entity Framework, the .NET ORM for data access. EF Core works
with SQL Server, SQLite, Azure Cosmos DB, and more. EF6 is the previous
version, designed primarily for use with .NET Framework applications. EF
Core introduces new features like shadow properties, global query filters,
and better support for asynchronous operations, alongside performance
improvements and cross-platform support.

How do you perform model validation in ASP.NET Core MVC?

In ASP.NET Core MVC, model validation is performed using data
annotations and by implementing the IValidatableObject interface on the
model. Data annotations are attributes that you can apply to model
properties, such as [Required], [StringLength], and [Range], to specify
validation rules. The framework automatically checks these annotations
when a form is submitted and populates the ModelState with any
validation errors. You can check ModelState.IsValid in your action methods
to determine if the model passed validation. Custom validation logic can
also be added by implementing the Validate method of the
IValidatableObject interface.

Describe the approach to handle database migrations in ASP.NET

Core.
Database migrations in ASP.NET Core are typically managed with Entity
Framework Core (EF Core). Migrations allow you to evolve your database
schema over time as your application evolves without losing data. To
handle migrations, you use commands like Add-Migration to scaffold a
migration script for pending schema changes and Update-Database to
apply the migration to the database. Migrations include up and down
methods, allowing you to apply or revert changes. EF Core tracks applied
migrations using a special history table in your database.

What is middleware in the context of ASP.NET Core applications?

Middleware in ASP.NET Core is software that’s assembled into an
application pipeline to handle requests and responses. Each component
chooses whether to pass the request to the next component in the
pipeline and can perform certain actions before and after the next
component. Middleware is used for authentication, error handling, static
file serving, and more. They are configured in the Configure method of the
Startup class using methods like Use….

Explain how to create and register custom middleware.

To create custom middleware in ASP.NET Core, define a class with an
Invoke or InvokeAsync method that takes HttpContext as a parameter.
This method should perform the middleware’s task and optionally call
next to pass control to the next middleware in the pipeline. To register the
middleware, add it to the application’s request pipeline using the
UseMiddleware<T> extension method in the Main method of the Program
class.

Describe the built-in dependency injection container in ASP.NET

Core.
ASP.NET Core includes a built-in dependency injection (DI) container that
supports constructor injection by default. It allows you to register
application services with various lifetimes (singleton, scoped, transient)
and resolve them where needed. The DI container promotes loose
coupling and makes your application more modular and testable. Services
are typically registered in the Main method of the Program class.

What are the different service lifetimes available in ASP.NET

Core, and when would you use each?
 Singleton: Only one instance is created for the application’s
lifetime. Use for services that are stateless or thread-safe.
 Scoped: A new instance is created for each request. Use for
services that are specific to a request, such as database contexts.
 Transient: A new instance is created every time a service is
requested. Use for lightweight, stateless services.

How does ASP.NET Core implement authentication and

authorization?
ASP.NET Core implements authentication and authorization through
middleware. Authentication middleware authenticates a user, and
authorization middleware authorizes a user to access resources. ASP.NET
Core supports various authentication schemes (e.g., cookie-based, JWT,
OAuth) and allows for custom schemes. Authorization can be role-based,
policy-based, or a custom implementation configured via attributes or
services.

What are some ways to secure an ASP.NET Core MVC application

against common vulnerabilities?
To secure an ASP.NET Core MVC application, you should:
ADVERTISEMENT

 Use HTTPS to protect data in transit.

 Implement proper authentication and authorization.
 Use Data Protection APIs for secure data handling.
 Validate input to prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks.
 Configure CORS policies appropriately.
 Use anti-forgery tokens to prevent CSRF attacks.

Explain Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and how to prevent it

in ASP.NET Core.
CSRF is an attack that tricks the user into submitting a malicious request.
ASP.NET Core mitigates CSRF attacks by using anti-forgery tokens. An
anti-forgery token is generated and sent to the client; the client must
include this token in subsequent potentially unsafe requests (e.g., POST).
ASP.NET Core validates the token to ensure the request is not a CSRF
attack. This is typically implemented using the [ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
attribute on actions and the @Html.AntiForgeryToken() helper in forms.

What are some techniques to optimize the performance of

ASP.NET Core applications?
Performance optimization techniques include:
 Minimizing middleware components in the request pipeline.
 Using response caching and in-memory caching.
 Optimizing data access (e.g., using asynchronous methods, batching
queries).
 Minimizing the use of synchronous operations.
 Implementing efficient logging.
 Using the latest .NET Core and ASP.NET Core versions for
performance improvements.

How do you implement caching in ASP.NET Core?

In ASP.NET Core, caching can be implemented in several ways:
  In-memory caching: Using the IMemoryCache interface to store
objects in memory.
 Distributed caching: Using a distributed cache (e.g., Redis, SQL
Server) that can be shared across multiple servers or instances.
 Response caching: Using response caching middleware to cache
HTTP responses for subsequent requests.
Each caching strategy has its use cases, depending on the scalability
needs and the nature of the data being cached.

Use of asynchronous programming in ASP.NET Core to enhance

performance:
Asynchronous programming in ASP.NET Core allows non-blocking
operations. It enables the webserver to handle more requests by not
waiting for long-running tasks (like I/O operations) to complete. This is
achieved using async and await keywords in C#. Asynchronous methods
improve scalability and responsiveness, particularly in web applications
that interact with databases or external services.
Unit testing an ASP.NET Core MVC controller:
To unit test an ASP.NET Core MVC controller, you can use a testing
framework like xUnit, NUnit, or MSTest, along with a mocking library such
as Moq. The idea is to instantiate the controller with mock dependencies
passed into its constructor and then call the action methods on the
controller object. Assertions are made on the result to verify the controller
behaves as expected, focusing on the logic within action methods without
worrying about infrastructure concerns like databases, file systems, or
network calls.

Role of integration testing in ASP.NET Core and how it is

performed:
Integration testing ensures that different parts of the application work
together as expected. In ASP.NET Core, this involves testing controllers,
views, databases, and other components as a whole. It can be performed
using the Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Testing package, which allows
running an in-memory test server with a real HTTP stack. Integration tests
typically make real HTTP requests to the application and assert the
responses to ensure the application behaves correctly when all pieces are
integrated.

Use of SignalR in ASP.NET Core:

SignalR is a library for ASP.NET Core that enables real-time web
functionality. It allows server-side code to send asynchronous notifications
to client-side web applications. SignalR is used for adding chat features,
real-time updates, and interactive features to web applications. It uses
WebSockets under the hood when available and falls back to other
compatible techniques for real-time communication when necessary.

Areas in ASP.NET Core MVC and their benefits:

Areas are a feature in ASP.NET Core MVC that helps organize a large
project into smaller functional groupings. Each area can contain its own
set of controllers, views, and models. This organization makes it easier to
manage and scale large applications by allowing teams to work on distinct
features in isolation, improving the maintainability and structure of the
application.

Implementing API versioning in ASP.NET Core:

API versioning in ASP.NET Core can be achieved through query string
parameters, URL paths, or HTTP headers. The
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Versioning package offers easy-to-use services
and attributes that help manage versioned APIs. By specifying versions on
controllers or actions, you can ensure that APIs are backward compatible
and clients can choose which version of the API they want to call.

Internationalization and localization in ASP.NET Core:

ASP.NET Core supports internationalization (creating applications that
support multiple cultures) and localization (adapting an application for a
specific culture/locale). This involves using Resource Files (.resx) to store
localized strings and configuring services in Program.cs to use localization
middleware. The framework provides mechanisms to detect the user’s
culture and apply the appropriate resources, allowing developers to create
globally accessible applications.

Deploying an ASP.NET Core application to a Linux server:

Deployment to a Linux server involves publishing the ASP.NET Core
application, transferring the published application to the server, and
hosting it using a reverse proxy server like Nginx or Apache. The
application can run on Linux using the Kestrel web server and be
managed as a systemd service for start-up and logging. Additionally,
setting up an SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt might be necessary for
secure HTTPS connections.

Managing app settings and configurations for different

environments in ASP.NET Core:
ASP.NET Core uses an environment-specific appsettings.json file (e.g.,
appsettings.Development.json, appsettings.Production.json) to override
settings in the appsettings.json file based on the environment. The
IConfiguration interface is used to access these settings in the code.
Environment variables can further override these settings, providing
flexibility for different deployment environments without changing the
code.

Role of the appsettings.json file in ASP.NET Core:

The appsettings.json file is the default configuration file in ASP.NET Core
applications. It stores configuration settings such as connection strings,
logging levels, and application-specific settings. These settings can be
read at runtime using the IConfiguration service.

Managing user sessions in ASP.NET Core MVC:

User sessions in ASP.NET Core MVC are managed through the session
middleware, which stores session data on the server. Sessions are
configured in Program.cs and can store data per user across requests.
Session data can be used for storing user-specific data like IDs, shopping
cart items, or user preferences during a browser session.

Concept of Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core and its advantages:

Tag Helpers enable server-side code to participate in creating and
rendering HTML elements in Razor files. They provide a way to enhance
and extend HTML tags with server-side behaviors. Tag Helpers make
Razor views more readable and maintainable by adding server-side
processing power without the cumbersome syntax of traditional Razor or
HTML Helpers. They are used for form submissions, linking to resources,
and dynamically generating HTML content.

ASP.NET Core support for real-time web functionality:

ASP.NET Core supports real-time web functionality primarily through
SignalR. It allows for the development of web applications that require
high-frequency updates from the server, such as chat applications, live
notifications, and real-time dashboards.

Options pattern in ASP.NET Core for configuration:

The options pattern uses classes to represent groups of related settings.
By injecting these classes using dependency injection, applications can
access configured settings. This pattern is implemented through the
IOptions<T> interface, providing a strong-typed way to access settings in
the appsettings.json file or other configuration sources, making the
configuration system more robust and easier to maintain.

How do you secure sensitive data in ASP.NET Core applications?

Securing sensitive data in ASP.NET Core applications involves several
practices:
  Data Encryption: Use encryption to protect data at rest and in
transit. ASP.NET Core supports encryption mechanisms like AES for
sensitive data and TLS for data in transit.
 Secrets Management: Avoid storing sensitive data in your code or
configuration files. Use secret managers like Azure Key Vault or the
Secret Manager tool during development.
 Data Protection API: Utilize the ASP.NET Core Data Protection API for
encrypting and securing data, especially for cookies and session
information.

What are some best practices for error handling and logging in
ASP.NET Core?
 Global Exception Handling: Use middleware to handle global
exceptions, catch unhandled exceptions, and log them.
 Use Logging Frameworks: Implement logging frameworks like
Serilog or NLog to log errors and application flow for diagnostics.
 Structured Logging: Adopt structured logging to log complex data
types in a structured format, making it easier to query logs.
 Error Handling Pages: Configure custom error pages for different
types of exceptions to provide a better user experience.

How can the Repository and Unit of Work patterns be applied in

ASP.NET Core applications?
 Repository Pattern: Implement the repository pattern to abstract
the data layer, making your application more maintainable and
testable. Each repository handles the data operations for a single
entity type.
 Unit of Work: Use the Unit of Work pattern to maintain a list of
transactions and coordinate the writing out of changes and the
resolution of concurrency problems. It often works alongside the
repository pattern to ensure that multiple repositories can commit
changes atomically.
Describe the CQRS pattern and its applicability in ASP.NET Core.
CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) is a design pattern
that separates the read and update operations for a data store.
Implementing CQRS in ASP.NET Core can improve performance,
scalability, and security, as it allows you to scale read and write
operations independently and optimize each path according to its
demands.

How do you secure Web APIs in ASP.NET Core?

Securing Web APIs in ASP.NET Core typically involves:
 Authentication: Use ASP.NET Core Identity for user authentication
or external providers via OAuth2/OpenID Connect.
 Authorization: Implement authorization policies to control access
to resources based on user roles or claims.
 API Keys: Use API keys for simpler scenarios where full OAuth flows
are not required.
 HTTPS: Enforce HTTPS to protect data in transit.

Discuss strategies for developing and deploying microservices

with ASP.NET Core.
 Domain-Driven Design (DDD): Adopt DDD to define clear
microservice boundaries based on business domains.
 Containerization: Use Docker containers to package and deploy
microservices independently.
 API Gateway: Implement an API Gateway to route requests,
aggregate responses, and enforce common concerns like SSL
termination and authentication.
 Health Checks: Utilize health checks to monitor the status of
microservices.

How do you set up a CI/CD pipeline for an ASP.NET Core

application?
Setting up a CI/CD pipeline involves:
 Source Control: Use Git for source control.
 Build Server: Use a build server like Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or
GitHub Actions to automate builds.
 Automated Testing: Incorporate unit tests and integration tests in
your CI pipeline.
 Deployment Automation: Use deployment tools or scripts to
automate the deployment to different environments (development,
staging, production).

What are the benefits of using containerization with ASP.NET

Core applications?
Containerization offers:
 Portability: Containers encapsulate the application and its
dependencies, making it easy to run across different environments.
 Isolation: Each container runs in isolation, improving security and
reducing conflicts between applications.
 Scalability: Containers can be easily scaled up or down to handle
load changes.
 Continuous Deployment: Containers fit well into CI/CD pipelines,
enabling rapid deployment.

How can background tasks be implemented in ASP.NET Core?

Background tasks in ASP.NET Core can be implemented using hosted
services or background worker classes. These allow you to run
background operations, like processing tasks in a queue, without blocking
the main application thread.

Explain how to use environment variables to configure ASP.NET

Core applications in different environments.
ASP.NET Core supports configuration through various sources, including
environment variables. By using environment variables, you can override
settings in appsettings.json based on the deployment environment, such
as development, staging, or production, allowing for flexible and secure
configuration.

Discuss the role and configuration of the Kestrel web server in

ASP.NET Core.
Kestrel is a cross-platform web server for ASP.NET Core. It can run as a
standalone server or behind a reverse proxy like IIS or Nginx. Configuring
Kestrel involves setting up HTTPS, configuring endpoints, and setting
limits on requests and connections for security and performance.

How do you customize the built-in Identity system in ASP.NET

Core for user authentication and authorization?
Customizing ASP.NET Core Identity involves:
 Extending Identity Models: Extend user and role models to
include additional properties.
 Custom Stores: Implement custom user and role stores if you
need to store identity data in a non-standard way.
 Custom Password Policies: Configure password strength, lockout
settings, and user validation rules.
 Claims-Based Authorization: Use claims to store additional user
metadata for fine-grained access control.