Blazor WebAssembly vs. Blazor Server: Which One Should You Choose?

Blazor, the open-source web framework from Microsoft, allows developers to build web applications using C# and .NET instead of JavaScript. Blazor supports two deployment models: WebAssembly and Server. While both models share the same programming model, there are significant differences between them. In this post, we'll explore the differences between Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server and help you decide which one is right for your project.

Blazor WebAssembly
Blazor WebAssembly allows you to run the entire application in the client's web browser. When the user requests the application, the application's code is downloaded to the client's machine, compiled, and executed inside the browser's sandbox. This means that the application can run offline, and the user can continue to use the app even when they're not connected to the internet.

Blazor Server
Blazor Server, on the other hand, runs the application on the server and uses SignalR to provide real-time communication between the client and the server. When the user requests the application, the server sends the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to the client. The user interacts with the app, and the app sends the user's input to the server for processing. The server then sends the updated HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to the client, and the process repeats.

Which One Should You Choose?
The choice between Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server depends on your project's requirements. If your application needs to run offline, or you need to take advantage of client-side processing power, then Blazor WebAssembly is the better option. On the other hand, if your application requires real-time communication, or you have performance concerns, then Blazor Server is the way to go.

In this post, we explored the differences between Blazor WebAssembly and Blazor Server and helped you decide which one is right for your project. Remember, both models share the same programming model, so whichever one you choose, you'll still be able to leverage the power of C# and .NET to build your web application.