Differences between MVC and Web API

When learning about ASP.NET Technology, many students find themselves confused as to what MVC and WEB API actually are.

We’ll discover the main variations between the two in this article.

Difference between MVC and WEB API

Purpose :

MVC (Model-View-Controller):

• Use: Mainly for developing web apps that have a well-organized separation of activities. It separates the application into three linked parts:
• Model: Describes the data and business logic of the application.
• View: Manages the user interface (UI).
• Controller: Controls user input and updates the Model or View as necessary to maintain communication between the Model and the View.
• Use Case: This approach works best when developing fully functional web apps that require a back-end (logic, data processing) and a front-end (views).

Web API:

• Use: For the creation of HTTP-based services that clients (such as web browsers, mobile devices, or other services) can use. Web APIs are made to make functionality and data available for use by various clients, frequently in a RESTful fashion.
• Use Case: Perfect for developing services that are intended to be used indirectly, by other services or apps, in contrast to directly by end users. Web APIs return data in formats like JSON or XML and lack a user interface.

Output :

MVC:

• Returns HTML views that are displayed in the user’s browser are typical.
• May potentially return data in other formats (such as JSON or XML), although rendering views is its main priority.

Web API:

• Provides data in a variety of formats, including plain text, XML, and JSON.
• Doesn’t produce HTML views. The provision of data or services is the main goal.

Routing :

MVC:

• Maps URLs to controller actions — which typically yield views — using routing.
• Because several view types and URL patterns must be supported, routing is frequently more complicated.

Web API:

• Routing is usually simpler, mapping URLs to controller actions (such GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE operations) that return data.
• Often adheres to RESTful standards, mapping routes to resource activities directly.

Use in .NET :

MVC:

• Within the.NET environment, ASP.NET MVC is a framework for creating web applications that follow the MVC structure.
• Offers tools such as the Razor view engine, which facilitates the rendering of dynamic HTML content.

Web API:

• Within the.NET environment, ASP.NET Web API is a framework for creating HTTP services.
• Though its structure (controllers, routing) is similar to MVC, Web API is more streamlined and designed to create RESTful services.

Combining MVC and Web API :

• MVC and Web API are frequently integrated into a single, integrated framework in modern development, particularly with ASP.NET Core. Depending on the requirements of the application, developers can design controllers that either deliver views (for MVC) or data (for Web API).

Key Differences:

• MVC is frequently used to create Web applications that reply as both views and data, whereas the Web API is used to develop HTTP services that only respond as data.
• The Web API returns the data in a variety of formats, such as JSON, XML, and others, based on the accept header in the request. To return the data in JSON format, however, the MVC uses JSONResult.
• MVC Controllers return distinct ActionResult types when handling various HTTP responses or generating views. In Web API Controllers, you return IHttpActionResult for responses that are specific to HTTP.
• The main tasks of MVC controllers are to create views and manage the program’s user interface. Delivering services and data is what web API controllers are mostly focused on.

Conclusion:

• Applications requiring the rendering of dynamic views (HTML) for end users are best suited for MVC.
• The ideal technology for creating services that don’t render any views and instead give data for other clients (such mobile apps, front-end frameworks, and other services) to consume is WEB API.

Happy Coding!