Introduction

Blazor is Microsoft’s web framework that allows developers to build interactive web applications using C# instead of JavaScript. This guide will get you started with your first Blazor application.

What is Blazor?

Blazor is a free and open-source web framework that enables developers to create interactive web UIs using C#. It offers two hosting models:

  • Blazor Server: Runs on the server with UI updates sent over SignalR
  • Blazor WebAssembly: Runs entirely in the browser using WebAssembly

Why Choose Blazor?

Unified Development Stack

Use C# for both client and server-side development, reducing context switching between languages.

Rich Component Model

Build reusable UI components with clear separation of concerns.

Strong Typing

Get compile-time error checking and excellent IntelliSense support.

Quick Start

Prerequisites

  • .NET 8 SDK or later
  • Visual Studio 2022 or Visual Studio Code

Create Your First Project

dotnet new blazorserver -n MyBlazorApp
cd MyBlazorApp
dotnet run

Navigate to https://localhost:5001 to see your running Blazor application.

Basic Blazor Component

Here’s a simple counter component:

@page "/counter"

<h3>Counter</h3>

<p>Current count: @currentCount</p>

<button class="btn btn-primary" @onclick="IncrementCount">Click me</button>

@code {
    private int currentCount = 0;

    private void IncrementCount()
    {
        currentCount++;
    }
}

Key Features

  • Component-based architecture for building modular UIs
  • Data binding with automatic UI updates
  • Event handling with C# methods
  • Dependency injection built-in
  • Routing for single-page applications

Next Steps

Now that you have Blazor running, explore:

  1. Components - Build reusable UI elements
  2. Data binding - Connect your UI to data
  3. Services - Add business logic
  4. Forms - Handle user input
  5. Authentication - Secure your app

Additional Resources

For more in-depth learning, check out these resources:

Conclusion

Blazor offers a powerful way to build modern web applications using C#. With its component model and familiar development experience, it’s an excellent choice for .NET developers looking to create interactive web UIs.

Start building your first Blazor application today and experience the power of C# in the browser!