Comparison between Minimal APIs and Controllers
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, simplicity is key. Enter Minimal APIs in ASP.NET Core, a lightweight and streamlined approach to building web applications. In this detailed blog, we'll explore the concept of Minimal APIs, understand why they matter, and walk through their implementation in ASP.NET Core.
When to Use Minimal APIs?
Minimal APIs are well-suited for small to medium-sized projects, microservices, or scenarios where a lightweight and focused API is sufficient. They shine in cases where rapid development and minimal ceremony are top priorities.
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I am directly showing the comparison between MinimalAPI and controller.
Controllers: Structured and Versatile
Controllers, deeply rooted in the MVC pattern, have been a cornerstone of ASP.NET API development for years. They provide a structured way to organize endpoints, models, and business logic within dedicated controller classes.
Let's consider an example
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
namespace MinimalAPI.Controllers
{
[ApiController]
[Route("[controller]")]
public class WeatherForecastController : ControllerBase
{
private static readonly string[] Summaries = new[]
{
"Freezing", "Bracing", "Chilly", "Cool", "Mild", "Warm", "Balmy", "Hot", "Sweltering", "Scorching"
};
private readonly ILogger<WeatherForecastController> _logger;
public WeatherForecastController(ILogger<WeatherForecastController> logger)
{
_logger = logger;
}
[HttpGet(Name = "GetWeatherForecast")]
public IEnumerable<WeatherForecast> Get()
{
return Enumerable.Range(1, 5).Select(index => new WeatherForecast
{
Date = DateOnly.FromDateTime(DateTime.Now.AddDays(index)),
TemperatureC = Random.Shared.Next(-20, 55),
Summary = Summaries[Random.Shared.Next(Summaries.Length)]
})
.ToArray();
}
}
}
Advantages of Controllers in Action
Structure and Organization: Controllers offer a clear structure, separating concerns and enhancing maintainability.
Flexibility: They enable custom routes, complex request handling, and support various HTTP verbs.
Testing: Controllers facilitate unit testing of individual actions, promoting a test-driven approach
Minimal APIs: Concise and Swift
With the advent of .NET 6, Minimal APIs emerged as a lightweight alternative, aiming to minimize boilerplate code and simplify API creation.
Here's an example showcasing Minimal APIs.
using MinimalAPI;
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
// Add services to the container.
builder.Services.AddControllers();
// Learn more about configuring Swagger/OpenAPI at https://aka.ms/aspnetcore/swashbuckle
builder.Services.AddEndpointsApiExplorer();
builder.Services.AddSwaggerGen();
var app = builder.Build();
app.MapGet("/GetWeatherForecast", () =>
{
var rng = new Random();
var summaries = new[]
{
"Freezing", "Bracing", "Chilly", "Cool", "Mild",
"Warm", "Balmy", "Hot", "Sweltering", "Scorching"
};
var weatherForecasts = Enumerable.Range(1, 5).Select(index => new WeatherForecast
{
Date = DateTime.Now.AddDays(index).Date,
TemperatureC = rng.Next(-20, 55),
Summary = summaries[rng.Next(summaries.Length)]
}).ToArray();
return Results.Ok(weatherForecasts);
});
// Configure the HTTP request pipeline.
if (app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
app.UseSwagger();
app.UseSwaggerUI();
}
app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseAuthorization();
app.MapControllers();
app.Run();
Advantages of Minimal APIs in Focus
Simplicity: Minimal APIs drastically reduce code complexity, ideal for smaller projects or rapid prototyping.
Ease of Use: They enable quick API creation with fewer dependencies, accelerating development cycles.
Potential Performance Boost: The reduced overhead might lead to improved performance, especially in smaller applications.
What you choose between MinimalAPI and Controller?
Choosing between Controllers and Minimal APIs hinges on various factors.
Project Scale: Controllers offer better organization and structure for larger projects with intricate architectures.
Development Speed: Minimal APIs shine when speed is crucial, suitable for rapid prototyping or smaller projects.
Team Expertise: Consider your team's familiarity with MVC patterns versus readiness to adopt Minimal APIs.
Conclusion
The decision between Controllers and Minimal APIs for .NET APIs isn't about one being superior to the other. Rather, it's about aligning the choice with the project's specific needs and constraints. Controllers offer robustness and versatility, perfect for larger, complex projects. On the other hand, Minimal APIs prioritize simplicity and rapid development, ideal for smaller, more straightforward endeavours.
