Question

Describe the use of Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core and provide an example of how you might use them to improve code maintainability.

Answer 1

Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core are server-side components that enable developers to create HTML elements with custom attributes and behaviors, improving code maintainability by reducing the need for repetitive markup. They simplify Razor views by encapsulating complex logic into reusable components, making it easier to read and understand.

For example, consider a scenario where you want to display an email link. Without Tag Helpers, you would use traditional Razor syntax:

<a href="mailto:@Model.Email">@Model.Email</a>

With Tag Helpers, you can create a custom EmailTagHelper:

public class EmailTagHelper : TagHelper

{

public string Address { get; set; }

public override void Process(TagHelperContext context, TagHelperOutput output)

{

output.TagName = "a";

output.Attributes.SetAttribute("href", $"mailto:{Address}");

output.Content.SetContent(Address);

}

}

Now, you can use this custom tag in your Razor view:

<email address="@Model.Email"></email>

This approach enhances readability and promotes reusability of code across multiple views, ultimately improving maintainability.