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Two approaches to redirection in ASP.NET

ASP.NET provides a few ways to move to different pages. Here’s a look at these options.

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Directing a user to another page or resource is a common aspect of a Web application. The user may initiate the transfer to another page any number of ways, including clicking a button or link or selecting a value in a drop-down list. ASP.NET provides a few ways to move to different pages. Here’s a look at these options, along with commentary on when you should use which approach.

Client vs. server

A key aspect of the various ways to send a user to another page within an ASP.NET application is where the transfer occurs; that is, it is handled within the client browser or on the Web server. The following list outlines two options for controlling page navigation.

• Response.Redirect: The Redirect method of the Response object provides a way to implement client-side redirection.
• Server.Transfer: The Transfer method of the Server object performs redirection using the server and avoiding HTTP requests.

Let’s take a closer look at each approach.

Response.Redirect
The default behavior of the Response.Redirect method is execution of the current page halts, and the user is sent to the new URL. The Web server issues HTTP headers and sends a 302 response to the client browser; this instructs the client to make redirected calls to the target URL. The result is two server requests for each redirection: the original and redirected requests. The following C# snippet shows it in action:

Response.Redirect("http://www.news.com");

Now, the Redirect method has two signatures with the second format accepting another Boolean parameter that signals whether execution of the current page should terminate (the default behavior). We could tell the system to continue execution of the current page while redirecting the user to the News.com site with the following snippet:

Response.Redirect("http://www.news.com", false);

Server.Transfer
The Server.Transfer method transfers the execution of a target URL to the server and halts execution of the current page. The result is only one request (as opposed to the two involved with the Response.Redirect method) since the server does not notify the client browser of the change. The experience can be a little disconcerting for users since the page address does not change in the browser. This C# snippet shows how you may use this method.

Server.Transfer("/default.aspx");

When using Server.Transfer, the target URL must be a virtual path on the same server since the Web server’s worker process is used, so you can’t use an address containing “http” or “https.” It has three signatures, with a second variation allowing you to transfer control to an IHttpHandler and the third adding a second parameter to the first version; whereas, the second value is a Boolean signaling whether the current form’s querystring and Form collections are preserved.

The PreviousPage property of the Page class provides code access to properties of the previous page in the browsing session, so Form and querystring variables are persisted between pages whereas they are not when using Response.Redirect.

Server.Execute

The Server.Execute method is a bit antiquated, as there are other ways to accomplish the task, but it basically allows you to execute a resource request without leaving the current page. It is not really used for redirection, but it is mentioned here only to avoid any confusion with the Server.Transfer method.

Server.Execute has five signatures, but the basic version accepts a path to a resource as the following snippet displays:

Server.Execute(ResourcePath);

Pros and cons of each approach

Redirecting a user to another Web resource is feasible in ASP.NET using one of the techniques discussed. However, you may be wondering why you would choose one approach over the other. The following list covers some of the advantages or disadvantages of Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect.

• AJAX usage: The lack of browser interaction with the Server.Transfer method means it may break some AJAX and/or JavaScript functionality.
• Bookmarking: Since Server.Transfer does its work on the server, the address within the client browser is not updated. The user sees the previous page’s address while viewing a new page. Consequently, the user is unable to bookmark certain pages.
• Page refreshes: There is an issue when a true value is used with the second parameter of the Server.Transfer method. When users refresh a page located via this approach, it can trigger an invalid ViewState error message. This can be alleviated by disabling the enableViewStateMac property on a page, but this isn’t the best approach to security.
• Performance: Response.Redirect introduces an extra call while making the roundtrip between client and server; since there is only one call with Server.Transfer, it offers better performance.
• Scalability: The extra roundtrips associated with using Response.Redirect are often stated as a drawback with using it. However, I have seen it used in large applications without experiencing any performance issues.
• Errors: While Server.Transfer can cause some user confusion as the URL displayed in the browser address bar, it can also lead to some confusion with error logging, as the page URL recorded during logging will display incorrectly.
• Basic security: An interesting twist with using Server.Transfer is the ability to send data to another page without the user seeing it. This is enabled via the use of the QueryString, which is appended to the end of the target address. This new address will not show in the browser address bar with Server.Transfer, so it offers a simple layer of security. Of course, the Response.Redirect approach makes the QueryString visible to the user.

Usage depends on the situation

ASP.NET offers plenty of options when tackling a development task. The Response.Redirect and Server.Transfer methods provide two ways to redirect users to new URLs. Each method offers its own set of positive attributes, so deciding which one to use is really up to the developer’s preference.

Three questions you should ask an interviewer

Job interviews are not just a means by which prospective employers judge your suitability. It’s also a mechanism by which you can see if a company would be a place you’d want to work. Here are some questions you can ask an interviewer that will give you information about what the company culture is like and what the manager’s expectations will be.

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Many people approach job interviews with a deer-in-the-headlights “please don’t let me say anything stupid” mentality. And that’s understandable since no matter how many times career experts say otherwise — that you should also use an interview to size up the company — the job interview is a means by which you’re being judged.

Sometimes when people attempt to size up a company and its job offering, it goes terribly wrong. Some candidates misinterpret that mission and end up asking “What about me?” questions such as, what’s the vacation policy and how long do employees get for lunch? Interviewers like questions from candidates, they really do, but you have to learn to ask the right kind. If you ask the right questions, the information you get back could help you tailor your own presentation. Here are some examples:

1. “What can you tell me about the people I’ll be working with?” You can tell a great deal about an interviewer from how she answers this question. Does she speak in glowing terms about the team? Or does she go into too much detail about their quirks? Maybe the question tips off a tirade from her about how worthless and unproductive her staff members are. (That last response should send you running for the hills.)


2. “How do you approach problem solving?” If the interviewer responds that he expects problems to be solved in nanoseconds and you know yourself to be the type of person who likes to weigh all aspects of an issue, then you can pretty much discern that a working relationship between you two will be like oil and water. This could work out nicely if you think you’re being a yin to his yang could be ultimately productive, but it’s something to think about.


3. “What do you see as the ultimate goal of your department or team?” A good manager will respond in terms of company value and employee satisfaction. If he responds that his ultimate goal is to not screw up and to stay under the radar, you should be able to infer that that culture will not be the most supportive to growth. Also beware if this question causes the interviewer to veer off on a long tangent about his personal career goals. (This actually happened to me once. About 20 minutes into his self-expressive monologue, I wanted to wave my hand and ask, “Hey, remember me?”)
   

Hope these help in your next job interview.