When to use MVC and when to use Web Forms: an ASP.NET MVC-WebForms Comparison

         By Carmel Schvartzman

In this post we'll discuss when to use ASP.NET MVC and when to use ASP.NET Web Forms, performing an MVC-WebForms comparison. 

This is an MVC View:

Compare it with the Web Forms markup:

Web Forms are based on pre-built building stones called HTML Controls and Server Controls.
On the other side, MVC is based in the Model-View-Controller Pattern, that is reflected in the MVC folders architecture:

For those who until now have been working with traditional ASP.NET Web Forms, the following remarks about the Web Forms will not be new at all:

                                    ASP.NET Web Forms

Separation between UI Design (HTML) and Application Logic
ViewState:  exists, and usually is a heavy weight upon rendering HTML markup
Postback:  YES
Event-Driven Development: YES
Controls:  large library of drag-and-drop pre-built milestones that help you but limite you
SEO: Search Engine Optimization: limited by the pre-built controls
RAD: Rapid Application Development based on a rich variety of HTML and Server Controls
Test-Driven Development: no

                                       ASP.NET MVC

Separation between UI Design (View) - Data Bussiness Logic (Model) - Application Logic (Controller)
ViewState: NO (stateless model)
Postback: NO
Event-Driven: NO
Controls:   do not exist: there is complete control on the generated HTML
SEO: Search Engine Optimization: enhanced by the complete control on the generated HTML
RAD: Rapid Application Development is not the priority
Test-Driven Development: optimized for it

Based on the previous considerations, we could use the following table for deciding between MVC-WEBFORMS:

Needs	MVC	Web Forms
SEO optimizations		YES	NO
Development Speed		NO	YES
Control over rendered HTML		YES	NO
Intranet Applications		NO	YES
Internet Applications		YES	MAYBE
Test-Driven Development		YES	NO
HTML5 skills		YES	NO

Following the previous rough considerations, you could consider which ASP.NET development options to use.


That's all!! 
Happy programming.....

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