Minimal APIs were introduced in .NET 6 to simplify the creation of small, fast, and lightweight web APIs. They allow developers to express API logic with minimal code and configuration, without having controllers or properties like in typical ASP.NET MVC. They are best used when constructing small services, microservices, or proof-of-concept systems.
To get started
- This template sets up a basic minimal API.
- No controllers or Views folder.
MapGet
defines a GET endpoint.- Everything is written in
Program.cs
.
- Used to return data or simple messages.
- Can return strings, objects, or JSON.
- Accepts parameters directly from query or body.
- Ideal for submitting data.
-
Used to update existing resources.
-
Deletes a resource based on the ID.
- Automatically serializes object to JSON.
- No need for extra configuration.
-
Pass like
/greet?name=Diksha
.
-
Route parameters are defined inside
{}
.
- Automatically binds the JSON request body to an object.
- Use
record
orclass
.
Register service
Use it in the route
-
Supports constructor-less DI in lambda.
-
Manual validation can be added easily.
-
Explicit control over HTTP response type and status.
-
Helps organize related endpoints under a common path.
-
Minimal APIs support middlewares like normal APIs.
Add services
Use Swagger UI
-
Helps with testing and documentation.
-
:int
ensures only integer is accepted.
-
Enables cross-origin API calls.
-
Add environment-specific behaviors.
-
Define a global error route.
Update launchSettings.json
or in code:
-
Helps version your API easily (
/api/v1/products
).
-
Supports role-based or policy-based authorization.
-
All endpoints can be asynchronous using
async/await
.
-
Use
HttpRequest
orHttpContext
to access headers, claims, cookies, etc.
-
Fine-grained control over HTTP response codes.
-
Handle advanced routing logic manually.
-
Useful for uploading files or handling
multipart/form-data
.
-
You can mix route, query, and body parameters.
Feature | Minimal APIs | RESTful APIs (Controllers) |
---|---|---|
Setup | Very low setup, all in Program.cs |
Needs controllers, attributes, and routing setup |
Performance | Slightly better (fewer layers) | Slightly heavier due to abstraction layers |
Best For | Small services, microservices, and quick APIs | Large-scale apps with many endpoints |
Testability | Less structured, harder to unit test | Easier to test with controllers/services |
Routing | Code-based (inline) | Attribute routing or convention-based |
Dependency Injection | Direct in lambda | Via constructor injection in controllers |
Maintainability (Large apps) | Harder to scale/organize | Better separation of concerns |
Swagger Support | Fully supported | Fully supported |
Custom Filters / Middleware | Limited (no filters, but use middleware) | Full support (filters, middleware, etc.) |
Validation (FluentValidation, etc.) | Manual or via packages | Built-in integration via ModelState |
Extensibility | Limited to what's in lambdas/middleware | Highly extensible (Filters, Bindings, etc.) |
When to Use What?
Use Case | Recommendation |
---|---|
Quick prototype or POC | Minimal API |
Microservices / serverless | Minimal API |
Full-blown business app | RESTful API (Controllers) |
App needing filters/attributes | RESTful API |
Highly structured/maintainable code | RESTful API |
Conclusion
Use Minimal APIs when you want speed and simplicity, but switch to RESTful APIs when you need organization, structure, testability, or layered architecture.