Password HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC

Back to: ASP.NET Core Tutorials For Beginners and Professionals

Password HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC

In this article, I am going to discuss How to Use Password Field HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC Application to Generate Password Fields with Examples. Please read our previous article, where we discussed How to Use Editor HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC Application.

What is a Password Field in HTML?

In HTML, the input element with the type attribute set to “password” is used to create a password input field. This type of input field is specifically designed for users to securely enter sensitive information, such as passwords, PIN codes, or other confidential data. When users enter a password input field, the characters they enter are usually masked (typically displayed as dots or asterisks) to prevent anyone from reading the content easily.

Here’s the basic structure of a password input field in HTML:

<label for="password">Password:</label>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password">

In this example:

  • <label for=”password”>Password:</label>: This is a label element that is associated with the password input field. It helps improve accessibility by providing a text description for the input.
  • <input type=”password” id=”password” name=”password”>: This is the password input field itself. The type attribute is set to “password”, which specifies that it should behave as a password input. The id attribute associates the input with the label, and the name attribute is used to identify the field when the form is submitted.

The key feature of a password input field is its ability to mask the entered characters to enhance security. This helps protect sensitive information from being easily visible to others, especially when entered on shared or public computers. When the form containing the password input is submitted, the entered value is sent to the server like any other form input, and it’s the server’s responsibility to handle and store passwords securely.

Password HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC

In ASP.NET Core MVC, the Password HTML Helper is used to generate HTML markup for password input fields within a view. Password input fields are commonly used in forms to allow users to enter passwords or other sensitive information securely. The Password HTML Helper helps simplify the process of creating password input fields and handling their data.

The HtmlHelper class provides two extension methods that we can use to generate a password field of <input type=”password”> in the ASP.NET Core MVC view. These two extension methods are Password() and PasswordFor().

Example to Understand Password HTML Helper in ASP.NET Core MVC

First, create a class file with the name LoginModel.cs and then copy and paste the following code into it.

namespace HTML_HELPER.Models
{
    public class LoginModel
    {
        public int LoginId { get; set; }
        public string? loginName { get; set; }
        public string? LoginPassword { get; set; }
    }
}

Next, modify the Home Controller as follows:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
namespace HTML_HELPER.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            return View();
        }
    }
}
Password() HTML Helper Method in ASP.NET Core MVC:

The Html.Password() HTML Helper method in ASP.NET Core MVC generates an input password element with a specified name, value, and HTML attributes. Two overloaded versions of the Password() Helper Method are available as follows.

IHtmlContent Password(this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper, string expression)
IHtmlContent Password(this IHtmlHelper htmlHelper, string expression, object value)

Next, modify the Index.cshtml file as follows:

@model HTML_HELPER.Models.LoginModel
@{
    Layout = null;
}
@Html.Password("LoginPassword")

Run the application and inspect the HTML for the password field text box. It will generate the following HTML for the Password field.

<input id="LoginPassword" name="LoginPassword" type="password" />
PasswordFor() HTML Helper Method in ASP.NET Core MVC:

The PasswordFor() HTML helper method is the strongly typed extension method. This method is used to generate an element of type <input type=”password”>. The name should be specified using a lambda expression.

The PasswordFor() HTML Helper method binds a specified model object property to the password element. As a result, it automatically sets the value of the model property to the password field. The PasswordFor() HTML Helper Method Signature is shown below:

public static IHtmlContent PasswordFor<TModel, TResult>(this IHtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper, Expression<Func<TModel, TResult>> expression)

Modify the Index.cshtml file as shown below.

@model HTML_HELPER.Models.LoginModel
@{
    Layout = null;
}
@Html.PasswordFor(m => m.LoginPassword)

It will generate the following HTML Code.

<input id="LoginPassword" name="LoginPassword" type="password">

In the above example, the first parameter of the PasswordFor() helper method is a lambda expression that specifies the model property to be bound with the password field textbox.

Customizing the Password Input:

You can customize the behavior and appearance of the password input by passing attributes to the PasswordFor method. For example, modify the Index.cshtml file as follows:

@model HTML_HELPER.Models.LoginModel
@Html.PasswordFor(m => m.LoginPassword, new { @class = "form-control", placeholder = "Enter your password" })

Here’s a breakdown of the code snippet provided:

  • @Html.PasswordFor(m => m.Password): This generates a password input field bound to the Password property in the model. The value entered by the user will be assigned to the Password property when the form is submitted.
  • @class = “form-control”: This is an example of adding a CSS class to the password input for styling purposes.
  • placeholder = “Enter your password”: This adds a placeholder text that is displayed in the input field before the user enters their password.

Validation and Model Binding: The PasswordFor method supports validation and model binding just like other HTML Helper methods. When the form is submitted, the entered password is bound to the specified property in the model.

The Password HTML Helper simplifies the process of creating password input fields and handling secure user input in your ASP.NET Core MVC application.

When to use the Password HTML Helper Method in ASP.NET Core MVC?

The Password HTML Helper method in ASP.NET Core MVC should be used whenever you need to create a password input field within a form. Password input fields are commonly used when you want users to securely enter passwords or other sensitive information, such as PIN codes or confidential data. The Password HTML Helper method helps mask user input to protect sensitive information from being easily visible on the screen.

Here are some scenarios where you should consider using the Password HTML Helper method:

  • User Registration and Authentication: When users are registering for an account or logging in, you’ll typically use password input fields to collect their passwords securely. The password input field helps ensure that passwords are not easily readable while being entered.
  • Change Password Forms: If your application has a feature that allows users to change their passwords, you should use the Password HTML Helper to create the password input field for the new password.
  • Secure Data Collection: Whenever you need users to input sensitive information, such as credit card details, PIN codes, or any confidential data, you should use the Password HTML Helper to create the input field. This ensures that the input is hidden and masked to prevent unauthorized users from viewing it.
  • Password Reset Forms: When implementing a “forgot password” functionality, the Password HTML Helper is used to create the input field where users enter their new passwords.
  • Admin Panels and User Management: In admin panels or user management sections, password input fields are used when creating or updating user accounts.
  • Any Form Requiring Confidential Information: Any form that collects confidential or sensitive information should use the Password HTML Helper method to ensure the privacy and security of the input.

Remember that the Password HTML Helper generates password input fields with the type=”password” attribute, which automatically masks the entered characters to enhance security. Always use password input fields in scenarios where user privacy and data security are paramount.

What are the Differences Between Html.Password and Html.PasswordFor in ASP.NET Core MVC?

In ASP.NET Core MVC, both Html.Password and Html.PasswordFor are HTML Helper methods used to generate password input fields in a view. However, they serve different purposes and are used in different scenarios. Here’s a comparison of Html.Password and Html.PasswordFor:

Html.Password:

This method is used when you want to manually generate a password input field without being directly bound to a model. It allows you to define the password input field’s name, value, and other attributes.

Syntax: @Html.Password(“name”, value, htmlAttributes)

  • name: The name attribute of the password input field.
  • value: The initial value of the password input field.
  • htmlAttributes: An object that defines additional HTML attributes for the input field.

Example: @Html.Password(“LoginPassword”, null, new { @class = “form-control”, placeholder = “Enter your password” })

Html.PasswordFor:

This method is used when you want to generate a password input field that is directly bound to a model property. It creates a password input field with attributes based on the specified model property and its value. The entered password is bound to the specified property when the form is submitted.

Syntax: @Html.PasswordFor(expression, htmlAttributes)

  • expression: An expression that identifies the model property to which the password input field is bound.
  • htmlAttributes: An object that defines additional HTML attributes for the input field.

Example: @Html.PasswordFor(m => m.LoginPassword, new { @class = “form-control”, placeholder = “Enter your password” })

Usage:
  • Html.Password: Used for manual generation of password input fields where you want control over the input field’s attributes and behavior.
  • Html.PasswordFor: Used when generating password input fields that are directly bound to a specific model property, ensuring proper model binding when the form is submitted.
Initial Value:
  • Html.Password: You can manually set the initial value of the input field using the value parameter.
  • Html.PasswordFor: The initial value is determined by the property’s value in the model.

The Html.Password is suitable when you want to manually control the attributes of the password input field, while Html.PasswordFor is used when you want to generate input fields that are directly bound to a specific model property, ensuring proper model binding when the form is submitted.

In the next article, I am going to discuss Hidden Field HTML Helper in the ASP.NET Core MVC Application. I explain Password Field HTML Helper in the ASP.NET Core MVC Application with Examples in this article. I hope this article will help you with your needs.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *