ASP.NET Programming Models

ASP.NET is a platform to build rich web applications. There are two ASP.NET programming models to choose for developement.

1. ASP.NET WebForms
2. ASP.NET MVC (Model View Contoller)

ASP.NET WebForms:

If you are coming from a client application developement background or you are familiar with UI controls and event handlers then you will find comfotable programming model in ASP.NET WebForms

1. Familiar Control and event based progamming model
2. Controls encapsulate HTML, JS and CSS
3. Rich UI controls included - datagrids, charts, AJAX
4. Browser diffrences handled for you
5. SharePoint builds on WebForms

ASP.NET MVC: (Model View Contoller)

ASP.NET MVC is a lower level web programming model. It's not provide higher level abstractions like controls. If you are coming from a traditional web developement background, ASP.NET MVC probably feel comfortable to you.

1. Feels comfortble for many traditional web developers
2. Total control of HTML markup
3. Supports Unit Testing, TDD and Agile methodologies
4. Encourages more prescriptive applications
5. Extremely flexible and extensible

We can also use the Hybrid model using both the models ASP.NET WebForms and ASP.NET MVC means some URLs process using Webforms and some by MVC.

There is a video presented by Microsoft's Scott Hanselman, Which gives you the information you need to decide if ASP.NET Web Forms or ASP.NET MVC is right for you.