ASP.NET Core
ASP.NET Core Tutorials: Build Web Apps and APIs with .NET
ASP.NET Core is Microsoft’s cross-platform, open-source framework for building web apps and APIs with C#. This page collects our ASP.NET Core tutorials, our guides for older ASP.NET Web Forms apps, and the tools you need to get started.
New to C#? Learn the language first with the C# tutorials or the step-by-step roadmap.
By Bijay Kumar, 13-time Microsoft MVP · Updated October 2026
ASP.NET Core vs ASP.NET: Which One Should You Use?
“ASP.NET” can mean two different frameworks. Classic ASP.NET (Web Forms and MVC 5) runs only on Windows with .NET Framework 4.x. ASP.NET Core is the modern rewrite that runs on current .NET versions on any operating system.
| ASP.NET Core | ASP.NET (Web Forms / MVC 5) | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | .NET 8, 9 and 10 | .NET Framework 4.x |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS and Linux | Windows only |
| UI options | MVC, Razor Pages, Blazor | Web Forms, MVC 5 |
| Web APIs | Controllers or Minimal APIs | ASP.NET Web API 2 |
| Hosting | Kestrel, IIS, containers, Azure App Service | IIS |
| Best for | All new web apps and APIs | Maintaining existing apps |
For any new project, choose ASP.NET Core on .NET 10, the current long-term support release. Web Forms isn’t available in ASP.NET Core, so teams moving off Web Forms usually rebuild those pages with Blazor or Razor Pages. See .NET versions and support dates before you pick a version.
ASP.NET Core Tutorials
Tutorials for modern ASP.NET Core apps running on .NET 8, 9 and 10. New guides on Web API, Minimal APIs, dependency injection and authentication are being added to this section.
ASP.NET Web Forms and MVC (.NET Framework)
Still maintaining an older ASP.NET app on .NET Framework? These tutorials cover common Web Forms tasks. For new projects, use ASP.NET Core instead.
Visual Studio and VS Code
Set up your editor and create projects. Visual Studio Code is free and works on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ASP.NET Core the same as ASP.NET?
No. ASP.NET (Web Forms and MVC 5) runs on .NET Framework and only on Windows. ASP.NET Core is a newer, cross-platform framework that runs on modern .NET. Code can’t simply be copied between them, but your C# skills carry over.
Should I learn ASP.NET Core or ASP.NET MVC in 2026?
Learn ASP.NET Core. It’s where Microsoft adds new features, it runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and it’s what most new .NET web jobs ask for. Learn classic ASP.NET only if you need to maintain an existing app.
Which .NET version should I use for a new ASP.NET Core app?
Use .NET 10, the current long-term support (LTS) release, which is supported until November 14, 2028. See our .NET versions page for every support date.
Can I run Web Forms on ASP.NET Core?
No. Web Forms isn’t part of ASP.NET Core. Teams migrating Web Forms apps usually rebuild the UI with Blazor, which also uses reusable components and C#, or with Razor Pages.
Do I need Visual Studio for ASP.NET Core?
No. You can build ASP.NET Core apps with the free .NET SDK and Visual Studio Code on any operating system. Start with installing VS Code.