Features of ASP.NET Server Controls

1. HTML Server Controls: You can manipulate these controls at the server-side. Before dispatching a form to the client, the ASP Engine converts them to the equivalent HTML elements. These controls are included in the System.Web.UI.HtmlControls namespace.

2. Web Server Controls: It is also known as ASP.NET Web Form Controls. These are the new generation’s controls developed by Microsoft. They have many useful built-in features and a standard set of properties.

In the HTML or [html].aspx[/html] file, these are typically referenced with an asp: prefix such as [html]asp: Label[/html], [html]asp: Button[/html], or [html]asp: TextBox[/html]. Besides the form type server controls, Such as – labels, button, and dropdown, etc. The ASP Engine also maps these controls to standard HTML equivalent controls before dispatching the page to the client. These Web server controls are available in the [html]System.Web.UI.WebControls[/html] namespace.

3. Validation Controls: This set of controls provides Rapid Application Development (RAD) features for automatically checking the specified validity of user inputs. These controls are available in the [html]System.Web.UI.WebControls[/html] namespace.

4. Custom Controls: You can develop your own server controls by extending an existing control or group of controls to provide additional functionalities. There are two versions of custom controls:

i. Web User Controls – The Web User Controls are very easy to develop, and it is typically stored as [html].ascx[/html] files.

ii. Web Custom Controls – The Web Custom Controls require in-depth knowledge of Object-Oriented Programming and the Common Language Runtime (CLR).