Which One Should You Choose?
With the evolution of ASP.NET Core, Microsoft has continued to push simplicity, performance, and developer productivity. In .NET 10, both Minimal APIs and MVC Controllers are first-class citizens—but they serve different purposes.
This article breaks down when to use which, with real-world examples, performance considerations, and best practices.
What Is a Minimal API?
Minimal APIs were introduced to reduce boilerplate and enable developers to define HTTP endpoints with minimal ceremony.
Example: Minimal API (.NET 10)
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
var app = builder.Build();
app.MapGet("/api/customers/{id:int}", (int id) =>
{
return Results.Ok(new { Id = id, Name = "John Doe" });
});
app.Run();Key Characteristics
No controllers
No attributes
No base classes
Everything is defined in
Program.cs(or extensions)
What Are MVC Controllers?
MVC Controllers are the traditional, structured approach used in enterprise-grade applications.
Example: MVC Controller (.NET 10)
[ApiController]
[Route("api/[controller]")]
public class CustomersController : ControllerBase
{
[HttpGet("{id:int}")]
public IActionResult GetCustomer(int id)
{
return Ok(new { Id = id, Name = "John Doe" });
}
}Key Characteristics
Attribute routing
Filters, model binding, validation
Clear separation of concerns
Familiar to enterprise teams
| Feature | Minimal API | MVC Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Boilerplate | ⭐ Very Low | ❌ Higher |
| Learning Curve | ⭐ Easy | ⚠ Moderate |
| Performance | ⭐ Slightly Faster | ✅ Very Fast |
| Validation | Manual / Endpoints Filters | Built-in |
| Filters / Middleware | Limited | Powerful |
| Versioning | Manual | Built-in support |
| Best for | Microservices, simple APIs | Enterprise, large systems |
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