What is Blazor and why is it awesome?

20 May 2020 at 02:00 by ParTech Media - Post a comment

If you want to know all about the new project Blazor and it’s awesomeness, then read this post!

Before learning about Blazor, let’s get familiar with WebAssembly. In 2015, WebAssembly is introduced as a compressed binary code assortment designed to target complications on the web – on the server as well as a client-side. Using this specification for the browser, numerous companies have designed projects with a high-level programming language and Microsoft team has used WebAssembly to initiate the Blazor project. Until now Blazor was experimental but just recently Blazor WebAssembly is officially released by Microsoft and ready for production use.

What is Blazor?

Blazor is based on the .NET web framework. It uses the WebAssembly setup with Mono to create a smooth UI environment in the client’s web browser. It enables .NET framework programmers to develop highly functional and modern web applications.

interpreted mode

Source: Steve Sanderson

Blazor empowers developers to design interactive code using C# in lieu of JavaScript. It is packed with numerous components that are quite similar to React or Angular framework. On top of that, for the backend programming, users can utilize whatever technology they want.

It is an amazing single page application development technology because it uses C# in a full-stack. That means you are able to write code without depending on JavaScript because Blazor will automatically take the place of React, Angular or jQuery and connects with the ASP.NET core server code.

Blazor components are written into C# classes and later on build over .NET assemblies. The .NET assemblies are responsible for output and input functions and manage user events while maintaining the UI. The Blazor components can work as a container to keep all the shared, reused, and distributed over multiple apps.

An HTML page holding JavaScript functions to perform frontend programming is easy to manage by frontend developers. Blazor components are declared in the markup file with an .razor extension that holds the HTML elements along with the C# code which is responsible for event management and HTML rendering.

What Makes Blazor Awesome?

Blazor Stack

Source: GrapeCity

Its awesomeness can be proved from the fact that (front-end) developers don’t need JavaScript to write code. It has allows them to use C# code and create code encapsulation by reusing web UI elements. With the simple structure for creating single page web applications, the beauty of Blazor can be figured out from numerous factors.

Single or Multiple Applications

Currently, Blazor has two hosting models – Blazor Server and Blazor WebAssembly. The Blazor Server enables applications to be executed at the server-side. All the changes are made through a SignalR connection, including layout, event handling and JavaScript changes. On the other hand, Blazor WebAssembly facilitates to run the applications on the client-side with the help of WebAssembly. Moreover, if you require server-side rendering, then it can be run with the Blazor Server or you can utilize a separate API app. Thus, developers can easily create single or multiple applications using Blazor and no need to have a separate application like JavaScript.

One Programming Language

With Blazor WebAssembly, you can write front-end code in one programming language – C#. That means developers just need to learn one programming language to create a dynamic web application. This single feature has multiple benefits, especially if you are running a Blazor project.

The single language means that you can increase your competency and create flawless code way quicker. Additionally, in programming teams, the role of each team member can be easily defined without coding language restrictions. You can create simple or complicated code using Blazor without any traces of JavaScript where you have developed and integrate an API request every time you write any code.

Effortless Code Sharing

Blazor is awesome because it enables developers to easily share code at the frontend and backend side. That implies you can share the hosting model and need to only write it once. Additionally, if you ever have to modify code, then you just have to make a modification at one side and it will eventually reflect on both the sides.

Now, if you use JavaScript frameworks, then you have to define code on both sides separately and build code on the frontend and backend side using the relevant languages. This will take a lot of time plus the confusion of different programming languages leaves a room open for the coding errors. Thus, the dual side sharing feature of the Blazor is just awesome.

Rendering of Server-Side

If you are developing an application using both Blazor hosting models - Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server, the server-side rendering is by default included in your application. This rendering is very important when you are developing an application with the motive of being crawled by search engines. The server-side rendering will allow a search engine bot to crawl your application and analyse the content without going through the trouble of executing any JavaScript code.

If you want to check whether server-side rendering is installed in your application or not, you have to load your web application page and inspect the rendered source. Now, if the content present on the web page is similar to the content available on the source code, then this indicates that server-side rendering is enabled on your application. But, if you are coding with JavaScript, then you have to install or use any additional software.

Edge Over JavaScript

If you are wondering that Blazor and WebAssembly will replace JavaScript, then you are wrong. They are not JavaScript’s competitors - they are JavaScript enhancer. Blazor powers some of its features from JavaScript such as to power the SignalR connection JavaScript is used by Blazor.

blazor

Source: Tismo Technology Solutions

Right now, Blazor is officially released and ready for production use. Visit https://blazor.net/. All current modern browser now support WebAssembly. You can debug your project using Chrome and the new Edge browser with familiar tools like VS Code and Visual Studio. Blazor look promising and within time, it’s going to be even more awesome.

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