Creating an ASP.NET Web Application: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you a web developer in search of a must-know skill for building enterprise-level web applications? Look no further! ASP.NET is here to save the day! So, let’s dive into the step-by-step approach for creating an ASP.NET web application in Visual Studio 2017!

Understanding ASP.NET

Before we create an ASP.NET web application, let’s clarify what exactly ASP.NET is. ASP.NET is an open-source web application framework designed by Microsoft to build dynamic websites, web applications, and web services. It is a popular web application development framework, offering developers many tools and libraries to build robust and high-performing applications.

Step 1: Launch Visual Studio 2017

The first step in creating an ASP.NET web application is to launch Visual Studio 2017. If you don’t have Visual Studio 2017 installed, you can download it from the official Microsoft website. Once you have launched Visual Studio 2017, you will see the “Start” page.

Step 2: Create a New ASP.NET Web Application

To create a new ASP.NET Web Application, click on “New Project” from the Start page. This will open a new window that gives you the option to select a project template. Here, you can choose between different project templates, including ASP.NET Web Application, ASP.NET Web Forms Application, and ASP.NET MVC Application. For the purpose of this article, we will choose “ASP.NET Web Application.”

Step 3: Choose the Project Type

After selecting the ASP.NET Web Application template, you will be prompted to select a project type. There are three different project types to choose from: Empty, Web Forms, and MVC. For this article, we will select “Web Forms” as the project type.

Step 4: Select a Project Name and Location

In this step, you will be prompted to enter a name and location for your ASP.NET Web Application. You can choose any name you like for your project, and you can also choose where you want to save your project.

Step 5: Configure the Authentication Type

Once you have created your ASP.NET Web Application, you will need to configure the authentication type. You can choose between different authentication types, including “Individual User Accounts,” “Work or School Accounts,” and “Windows Authentication.” For this article, we will select “Individual User Accounts.”

Step 6: Add a new Database

After configuring the authentication type, you will need to add a new database to your project. You can do this by clicking on “Add New Item” and selecting “SQL Server Database.” Once you have added the database, you can add tables and columns to it by creating a new Entity Data Model.

Step 7: Add a new Entity Data Model

An Entity Data Model is an object-relational mapping framework that allows you to work with data using objects. To add a new Entity Data Model, you can click on “Add New Item” and select “ADO.NET Entity Data Model.” This will open a new window where you will be prompted to select a database from which you want to generate model classes.

Step 8: Create the User Interface

Once you have created your Entity Data Model, you can start building the user interface for your ASP.NET Web Application. You can do this by adding different types of controls to your web forms, including labels, text boxes, buttons, and drop-down lists. You can also add custom CSS to your web pages to make them look more attractive.

Step 9: Run the Application

The final step is to run your ASP.NET Web Application. To do this, click on the “Debug” button in the toolbar or press F5 on your keyboard. This will launch your application in a web browser, allowing you to test and debug it.

Conclusion

Creating an ASP.NET web application in Visual Studio 2017 can seem intimidating at first, but it is a crucial skill for any web developer. By following the step-by-step approach outlined in this article, you will be able to create a robust and high-performing web application in no time.