_ViewImports.cshtml file is a special file in ASP.NET Core MVC that allows you to centralize common directives and settings that apply to multiple views within your application. This file typically resides in the Views folder at the root of your project, but you can also place it within subfolders to apply the settings to views within those specific folders.
What Can You Put in _ViewImports.cshtml? @using Directives: Import namespaces that you frequently use in your views. This eliminates the need to include these directives in every individual view. @addTagHelper Directives: Make Tag Helpers available to your views. Tag Helpers are server-side code snippets that generate or modify HTML elements in a more intuitive way than traditional Razor syntax. @inject Directives: Inject services into your views, making them accessible for use in your Razor code. @model Directive (Optional): Specify a default model type for all views in the directory or subdirectories (not recommended for complex projects). @layout Directive (Optional): Set a default layout for all views in the directory or subdirectories.
How It Works When your application processes a request for a view, it looks for a _ViewImports.cshtml file in the following order: The same directory as the view: If found, the directives and settings in this file are applied. Parent directories: It then checks the parent directory of the view, and so on, up to the root Views folder. Root Views folder: Finally, it checks the _ViewImports.cshtml file in the root Views folder.
Directives in a child folder’s _ViewImports.cshtml file can override settings inherited from parent directories.
Code Example: _ViewImports.cshtml @using System.Collections.Generic // Import the generic collections namespace @using YourProject.Models // Import your project’s models namespace @addTagHelper *, Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.TagHelpers // Add built-in ASP.NET Core Tag Helpers
Benefits of Using _ViewImports.cshtml Reduced Redundancy: Avoid repeating the same directives in multiple views. Consistent Configuration: Easily apply common settings across your views. Improved Readability: Keep your individual view files cleaner and more focused on their specific content.
Code of View: @model YourProject.Models.Product <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>Product Details</title> </head> <body> <h1>@Model.Name</h1> </body> </html> In this example, the @model directive is not required in the view because it’s already specified in the _ViewImports.cshtml file. Similarly, you don’t need to include the @using directive for your model’s namespace.
By
No Comments
