ASP.NET MVC remains a powerful framework for building robust web applications but it's easy to overlook fundamental practices in the rush of development. This article compiles practical tips and architectural suggestions that can help you write cleaner, more maintainable and more secure MVC applications. These are not just best practices—they're reminders I’ve found valuable over the years and continue to use in nearly every project.
📌 General Recommendations
Write tests—and better yet, write them before the code
Always follow SOLID principles
Use
ActionFilterAttribute
for reusable cross-cutting concernsPrefer partial page updates to reloads for a smoother UX
Take advantage of ASP.NET's Resource folder
Use
TempData
instead of over-relying onSession
Apply
OutputCache
, especially for static pagesEmbrace async programming whenever appropriate
Send data using
HttpPost
for improved safety and clarityUse bundling and minification for better performance
Split your app into Areas to maintain modularity
Ensure folder names match namespace names
Defend against common attack vectors like:
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
SQL Injection
Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF)
Incorrect model binding
Always dispose of context objects properly
🧱 Model Best Practices
Create a separate project for your models
Handle all validations inside the model layer
Store view models in dedicated folders
Always define interfaces to prevent tight coupling
If needed, manage
Session
within your model layerUse view models instead of exposing entities directly—this allows for adding custom fields
🖼️ View Guidelines
Keep all HTML strictly inside the views—never in controllers
If you need to pass data from the controller, use
ViewData
Enable automatic JavaScript validation for forms
When adding comments, use C# comments so they won’t appear in the browser
Always use
HtmlHelper
extensions to simplify and standardize markup
🎮 Controller Recommendations
Accept models as parameters instead of primitive types
Always specify the name of the view the action should return
Use
[HandleError]
to gracefully handle unexpected failuresSubmit forms using POST for better security and intent clarity