HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC

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HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC

In this article, I will discuss HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC Applications with Examples. Please read our previous articles discussing Action Results in ASP.NET Core MVC Applications.

What are HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC?

HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC are methods used in Razor views to generate HTML elements dynamically. They provide a way to render standard HTML elements programmatically, which helps reduce the amount of manual HTML code we have to write in our views. HTML Helpers simplify the process of creating form controls such as textboxes, dropdown lists, checkboxes, radio buttons, and other HTML elements, especially when bound to model data. They help keep the Razor views cleaner by encapsulating HTML markup. By using HTML Helpers, developers can render HTML in a strongly typed, C# centric way. This allows for better reuse and more readable code.

Why HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC?

HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC simplify the process of creating HTML elements on a web page and binding data to them. Using HTML Helpers reduces the chances of introducing typos or errors when manually writing HTML code. Additionally, HTML Helpers facilitate model binding, validation, and integration with ASP.NET Core features such as tag helpers, form validation, and data annotations. They also promote code reusability and maintainability, making views cleaner and easier to manage.

For example, if you want to generate a textbox with id=”firstname” and name=”firstname,” you can type all the required HTML in a view, as shown below.
<input type=”text” name=”firtsname” id=”firstname” />

However, in ASP.NET Core MVC, you can use the TextBox HTML helper method to generate a text box as follows.
@Html.TextBox(“firtsname”)

Several overloaded versions of the above TextBox HTML helper method are available, which you can use according to your requirements. For example, you can use the following overloaded version of the TextBox helper method to set the value and name.
@Html.TextBox(“firtsname”, “Pranaya”)

At runtime, the above TextBox HTML helper method generates the following HTML
<input id=”firtsname” name=”firtsname” type=”text” value=”Pranaya” />

It is also possible to set the HTML attributes of a text box. If you want to do so, you need to use the following overloaded version of the TextBox HTML helper method.
@Html.TextBox(“firtsname”, “Pranaya”, new { style = “background-color:Red; color:White; font-weight:bold”, title=”Please enter your first name” })

Notice that we are passing the HTML attributes title and style to the TextBox helper method as an anonymous type. Some HTML attributes are reserved keywords, such as readonly, class, etc. If you want to use these attributes within a Helper method (which is a C# method), you must prefix them with the @ symbol, as shown in the example below.
@Html.TextBox(“firtsname”, “Pranaya”, new { @class = “redtextbox”, @readonly=”true” })

Types of HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC

HTML Helpers can be categorized into three types:

Standard HTML Helpers:

These helpers generate basic HTML elements such as text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. Examples include

• Html.TextBox()
• Html.TextArea()
• Html.DropDownList()

Strongly Typed HTML Helpers:

These helpers are associated with a specific data model and allow for compile-time checking of model properties. They use lambda expressions to refer to model properties directly. Examples include:

• Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.PropertyName)
• Html.EditorFor(model => model.PropertyName)
• Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.PropertyName)

Custom HTML Helpers:

You can create custom HTML helpers by defining reusable methods to generate specific HTML markup. These helpers are typically used when you need custom functionality that the built-in helpers do not provide.

Is it mandatory to use HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC?

No, using HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC is not mandatory. Developers can write plain HTML code directly in Razor views without using HTML Helpers. However, HTML Helpers can make your views more consistent, concise, and easier to maintain, especially when dealing with forms, model binding, and data validation. HTML Helpers also provide additional features such as automatic validation message display and easier data binding to model properties.

Developers can also use libraries like Tag Helpers (introduced in ASP.NET Core), which are more readable and tend to align more closely with HTML syntax. The choice between HTML Helpers, Tag Helpers, or plain HTML depends on the developer’s preference, the application’s complexity, and the project’s specific requirements.

Categories of HTML Helpers Methods in ASP.NET Core MVC Application

The HTML Helper methods in ASP.NET Core MVC can be categorized based on the types of HTML they generate. They are as follows:

Input Control Helpers:

Generate HTML input elements such as text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. Examples include:

• Html.TextBox()
• Html.CheckBox()
• Html.RadioButton()

Display Control Helpers:

Render read-only representations of model properties. Examples include:

• Html.Label()
• Html.DisplayFor()
• Html.DisplayTextFor()

Form Helpers:

Help generate form elements and manage form submissions. Examples include:

• Html.BeginForm()
• Html.EndForm()

Validation Helpers:

Display validation messages related to model validation. Examples include:

• Html.ValidationMessageFor()
• Html.ValidationSummary()

Link HTML Helpers:

The Link HTML Helpers generate anchor (<a>) tags that create hyperlinks to different pages within your application. The following are the examples:

• Html.ActionLink
• Html.RouteLink

Why HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC?

The primary reason to use HTML Helpers is to maintain a clean and maintainable codebase. HTML Helpers abstract the HTML generation part from the business logic, making the Razor views cleaner and more maintainable. The following are the advantages of using HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC Applications:

• Reusability: Using HTML Helpers, we avoid duplicating HTML code across views, enhancing code reusability and maintainability.
• Model Binding: HTML Helpers simplify the connection between the view and model properties, ensuring that form fields are correctly bound to data properties. This makes it easier to work with forms and dynamic data.
• Validation: HTML Helpers automatically generate client-side validation for forms based on data annotations in the model, reducing the need to write manual validation code.
• Consistency: Helpers ensure consistent rendering of HTML elements across views, especially for form fields and controls.
• Reduced Errors: Since HTML Helpers are strongly typed (in the case of For helpers), they reduce the risk of errors by enabling compile-time checking of model properties.

In the next article, I will discuss the TextBox HTML Helper Method in ASP.NET Core MVC Applications with examples. This article explains the basic concepts of HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC applications. I hope you enjoy this HTML Helpers in ASP.NET Core MVC article.