Differences between IIS URL Rewriting and ASP.NET Routing

1. Differences between IIS URL Rewriting and ASP.NET Routing
S.No URL Rewriting ASP.NET Routing
1 Meaning: Meaning:
URL rewriting consists of ASP.NET routing extracts specific
certain regular expression values from the URL, based on a
patterns that match an pattern. These extracted values
incoming request URL and can be used to determine the
forward the request to a handler that will handle the
mapped URL instead. For request. We can also use these
example, one might create a patterns to generate a URL that will
URL rewriting rule that map to a specific handler.
forwards an incoming request
for
http://www.example.com/Produ
cts/Beverages to another URL
of
http://www.example.com/Produ
cts/Show.aspx?id=5
2 Does it alter the request / Does it alter the request /
incoming URL ? incoming URL ?
URL rewriting alters the ASP.NET routing is different. It
request URL and forwards it to does not alter the incoming URL.
another URL.
3 When URL Rewriting is right When ASP.NET Routing is right
choice ? choice ?
IIS URL rewriting is a generic ASP.NET routing is a solution that
URL manipulation mechanism is optimized for ASP.NET, thus it
that addresses a multitude of may be preferable for Web
scenarios. In particular, it can developers who design their
be used by Web developers as ASP.NET applications from the
well as Web server/site ground up and want to have a
administrators to enable clean clean URL structure.
URLs for existing Web
applications without modifying
the application code.
4 For what type of For what type of application(s)
application(s) URL Rewriting ASP.NET Routing can be used ?
can be used ? ASP.NET routing can be used only
The IIS URL Rewrite module with .NET Framework-based Web
can be used with any type of applications.
Web application, which
includes ASP.NET, PHP, ASP,
and static files.
5 Does it extensible and Does it extensible and
customizable ? customizable ?

2. The URL Rewrite module is not ASP.NET routing is fully extensible
extensible in its current and customizable.
version.
6 What tasks it can perform ? What tasks it can perform ?
In addition to rewriting, the ASP.NET routing does not perform
URL Rewrite module can these tasks.
perform HTTP redirection,
issue custom status codes,
and abort requests.
7 Application Area: Application Area:
The IIS URL Rewrite module By default, ASP.NET routing works
can make rewriting decisions only with URL paths and with the
based on domain names, HTTP-Method header.
HTTP headers, and server
variables.
8 IIS pipeline mode or IIS pipeline mode or Integrated
Integrated pipeline mode ? pipeline mode ?
The IIS URL Rewrite module For ASP.NET routing, it is
works the same way preferable to use integrated
regardless of whether pipeline mode. ASP.NET routing
integrated or classic IIS can work in classic mode, but in
pipeline mode is used for the that case the application URLs
application pool. must include file name extensions
or the application must be
configured to use "*" handler
mapping in IIS.
Summary:
IIS Rewiting & ASP.NET Routing:
"Either IIS URL rewriting or ASP.NET routing can be used to implement URL manipulation
scenarios for your Web application. " - By Ruslan Yakushev
Main advantage of ASP.NET Routing:
It keeps the request-resource resolution logic within your application, so it's very easy to
add application-dependent logic when you need, and it eliminates the need to maintain
synchronization between your application and a separate configuration resource.
Routing works great with traditional webforms.
References:
http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/web-development/microsoft-
aspdotnet/9781847197542/routing/ch05lvl1sec02
http://www.iis.net/learn/extensions/url-rewrite-module/iis-url-rewriting-and-aspnet-routing
http://seow3c.blogspot.in/2012/04/differences-between-iis-url-rewriting.html

3. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/915771/url-rewriting-vs-routing
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