What is a Model in ASP.NET MVC

What is a Model in ASP.NET MVC ?

• In, ASP.NET MVC Framework structure, we have to understand 3 very simple blocks, which are:
  • Models
  • Controllers
  • Views

• Model connects our web application with our SQL Database, it takes commands from the Controller and then get or set values in the Database and finally updates the View.
• We can say that Model is acting as a middle man between Controller, View & SQL Databases.
• If you are not understanding the Controller or View, that's no problem. We will cover them in next chapters, for now just focus on functioning of Model.
• So, in your Solution Explorer, you can see a folder named Models, click to expand and you will find 3 model files in it, as shown in below figure:

• You can see in above figure that Microsoft visual studio has auto created 3 Model files in our ASP web project.
• So, click AccountViewModels.cs file and it will open up as shown in below figure:

• Now you can see in above figure that our model file has some classes in it.
• If you check the whole file then you will find more than 5 classes in it.
• Each of these class is actually representing a unique model, all of these classes have certain rules attached to them.
• Now let's understand the working of our web app.
• When our ASP web application runs for the first time:
  • The App goes to Controller.
  • Controller hits the Model.
  • Model gets or sets values into SQL Database & then return value to Controller.
  • Controller returns value to View.
• I have shown this working in block diagram form here:

• Now in this model file, you have find for class RegisterViewModel, its the Model for our registration page, shown in below figure:

• The main thing to note in this class is that, we have created 3 variables with data types public string, named as:
  • Email.
  • Password.
  • ConfirmPassword.
• The parameters assigned to these variables are get and set, and these variables will either Get value from the SQL Database or Set new value to it.
• So in simple words, the model is dealing with data in or out, it receives commands/data from controller and according to the rules set in each model, the data will be either stored in the SQL database or fetched from it.
• Model tells us, what kind of information is required and what kind of information is placed in the SQL Databases.
• The major code of MVC Framework is written in the Model section, because here we have to write all our rules and permissions to interact with the SQL databases.
• Here's a video where one of our team member has explained Model in ASP.NET MVC in detail: