I'm going to use MVC4 for my project in future. I doubt using @Html helpers instead of using classic way like this:
@Html.labelfor(....)
or
<label for="xx">name</label>
Is it necessary to use html helpers?
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1Nothing forces you to use html helpers, they are just that - Helpers.Dimitar Dimitrov– Dimitar Dimitrov2013-08-17 05:04:01 +00:00Commented Aug 17, 2013 at 5:04
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HTML helpers helps you to submit your View Model to Controller. In this way you can avoid the use of Form Collection and Form Collection is not a good option for Unit Testing Purpose. Click here to check more details.Imad Alazani– Imad Alazani2013-08-17 05:04:52 +00:00Commented Aug 17, 2013 at 5:04
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2@PKKG That is not what they are for.. you can just as easily not use HTML Helpers and it will bind fine..Simon Whitehead– Simon Whitehead2013-08-17 05:17:17 +00:00Commented Aug 17, 2013 at 5:17
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1@SimonWhitehead : You are right. +1 BUT, once you are used to implement HTML helpers. It's advantage side.Imad Alazani– Imad Alazani2013-08-17 05:24:58 +00:00Commented Aug 17, 2013 at 5:24
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2I still don't get your point. They are used for helping build html ... that is completely different to the model binder.Simon Whitehead– Simon Whitehead2013-08-17 05:32:42 +00:00Commented Aug 17, 2013 at 5:32
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2 Answers
They are exactly what they say they are - helpers. But they do save you on coding time IMO. You picked the LabelFor example to demonstrate your point but let me give you my example. Is it easier to write:
@Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.LastName, new { @class = "input-block-level", placeholder = "Last Name" })
@Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.LastName)
Or
<input class="input-block-level" data-val="true" data-val-length="The field Last Name must be a string with a maximum length of 50." data-val-length-max="50" data-val-required="The Last Name field is required." id="LastName" name="LastName" placeholder="Last Name" type="text" value="">
<span class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="LastName" data-valmsg-replace="true"></span>
In other words, helpers are very useful in keeping the code clean and easy to maintain while saving you coding time in the process.
Comments
You use HTML helpers in a view to render HTML content. An HTML helper, in most cases, is just a method that returns a string. You can build an entire ASP.NET MVC application without using a single HTML helper; however, HTML helpers make your life as a developer easier. By taking advantage of helpers, you can build your views with far less work.
In the ASP.NET MVC world, HTML helpers are the equivalent of ASP.NET Web Form controls. Like a Web Form control, an HTML helper enables you to encapsulate the rendering of HTML. However, unlike a Web Form control, HTML helpers are extremely lightweight. For example, an HTML helper does not have an event model and does not use view state.
-- "ASP.NET MVC Framework UNLEASHED" by Stephen Walther
