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

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.