ASP.NET App Code folder

Question

If an ASP.NET application contains classes then there are two options: 1) put the classes in the appcode folder or 2) Create a separate class library.

I have found many web pages that discuss the benefits of option 2 and I was already aware of these benefits e.g.

1) The Business Logic layer is separated from the presentation layer 2) Code can be shared between multiple client applications e.g. an ASP.NET website and a VB.NET application client.

I cannot find any web pages that discuss the benefits of option 1.

My question is: are there any benefits to option 1? Am I over thinking this?

@Alex, thanks. There are about 60 classes in total. I am trying to understand the benefits of option 1 over option 2. — w0051977, Nov 15 '12 at 18:45
if you have web application (not web site) then use option 2. — Alexan, Nov 15 '12 at 18:50
see similar question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2277742/app-code-folder-is-missing-in-vs-2010 — Alexan, Nov 15 '12 at 18:55
so, I think benefits of option 1: it's simplicity, perfect for simple sites. — Alexan, Nov 15 '12 at 18:57

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

4

Are there any benefits to using App_Code?

It's a bit subjective, but in general, Web Application Projects scale much better than Web Site Projects.

As far as I know, the only benefit of Web Site Projects is that you can change App_Code files with out having to recompile them. But many (myself included) don't like that because it makes it possible to change code on a live web server, which is almost always a bad idea.

App_Code or separate class library?

It depends. If you need to use these classes in multiple projects, create a separate class library. If you only need it in this particular web site, App_Code is perfectly acceptable.

See Web Site or Web Application? and Web Application Projects versus Web Site Projects in Visual Studio for more information.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:18

Community

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answered Nov 15 '12 at 18:44

jrummell

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Thanks, but this has confused me even more (sorry). I have a website project and use the "publish website" option to deploy the compiled code to the server. Is this actually a web application? – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:02
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which VS you use? When you choose File -> New, you can select Web Site or project. If you have Web Site you can convert to web application. – Alexan Nov 15 '12 at 19:09
The website was developed by someone else. It is a website because there is no project file. – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:12
you can use library for web site too – Alexan Nov 15 '12 at 19:27
Are there any limitations using a DLL with a website instead of an application? – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:30
If you have no `.csproj`, it is a Web Site project. You can reference .NET dlls in both project types. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 19:32
Thanks before I mark this - are there any limitations to using a DLL with a website? I have read your link. – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:34
There are no limitations that I'm aware of. The limiting factors of Web Site Projects are more about project structure, not its references. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 19:36
Would you convert it to an app if you were including a DLL? – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:37
No, adding a reference to a dll works just fine in web sites. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 19:40
Just one more thing (for an upvote). Which option would you choose?(see question) – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 19:42
I guess my answer was a bit vague, sorry about that. Does my update makes things more clear? – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 19:55
I don't understand why your talking about websites and we apps as both can have class libraries. – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 20:00
I felt it was relevant since you asked about App_Code. Feel free to ignore that part. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 20:11
No, App_Code is only used in Web Site projects. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 20:21
If you use a web app then you have to produce a dl if you want to use classesl? (last question I promise) – w0051977 Nov 15 '12 at 20:27
Nope, classes can be in any folder in a web application project. – jrummell Nov 15 '12 at 20:29

ASP.NET App Code folder

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