Difference between ASP Session and ASP.NET Session?
The main difference between ASP Session and ASP.NET Session lies in the technologies they are associated with. Here are the key distinctions:
-
Technology:
ASP: ASP (Active Server Pages) is a legacy server-side scripting technology introduced by Microsoft in the late 1990s. It was the predecessor to ASP.NET and used VBScript or JScript for scripting.
ASP.NET: ASP.NET is a web development framework introduced by Microsoft as a successor to ASP. It provides a more robust and feature-rich platform for building web applications. ASP.NET uses languages such as C# and VB.NET and supports a wide range of programming models.
-
Session State Management:
ASP: In ASP, session state management is handled through the Session object, which allows storing and retrieving user-specific data across multiple requests. The session data is typically stored on the server using cookies or URL rewriting.
ASP.NET: In ASP.NET, session state management is also handled through the Session object. However, ASP.NET provides more flexibility and options for session state storage, such as in-process memory, state server, or SQL Server. ASP.NET also offers additional features like session state modes, cookieless sessions, and fine-grained control over session state behavior.
-
Performance and Scalability:
ASP: ASP session state is limited to in-process memory, which means session data is stored on the web server's memory. This approach may limit scalability in web farm or server farm environments.
ASP.NET: ASP.NET offers various session state modes, including in-process, state server, and SQL Server, which allow sharing session data across multiple servers, enhancing scalability and performance in distributed environments.
-
Development Model:
ASP: ASP follows a more classic scripting model where code and HTML are intermixed within the same file, making it relatively less structured and modular.
ASP.NET: ASP.NET follows a more structured and modular development model, separating code (code-behind files) from markup (HTML or XML-based) files. It leverages the object-oriented programming model and provides features like code reusability, separation of concerns, and extensive server controls.
Overall, ASP.NET offers a more advanced and feature-rich platform for web application development compared to the older ASP technology. It provides improved session state management options, better performance, scalability, and a more modern development model.