What is machine.config and web.config in ASP.NET

Question

HI... I want to know, what is the main use of web.config and machine.config in asp.net ? Thanks.

Anuja Pawar · Answer

Hi Vineet, Web.config file in ASP.NET, as it sounds like is a configuration file for the Asp .net web application. An Asp .net application has one web.config file which keeps the configurations required for the corresponding application. Web.config file is written in XML with specific tags having specific meanings. Generally we store database connections, Session States, Error Handling, Security configurations in ASP.NET web.Config file. Multiple configuration files, all named Web.config, can appear in multiple directories on an ASP.NET Web application server. Each Web.config file applies configuration settings to its own directory and all child directories below it. Configuration files in child directories can supply configuration information in addition to that inherited from parent directories, and the child directory configuration settings can override or modify settings defined in parent directories. The root configuration file named systemroot\Microsoft.NET\Framework\versionNumber\CONFIG\Machine.config provides ASP.NET configuration settings for the entire Web server.

Ankit Shivnakr · Answer

Web.config is the main settings and configuration file for an ASP.NET web application. The file is an XML document that defines configuration information regarding the web application. The web.config file contains information that control module loading, security configuration, session state configuration, and application language and compilation settings. Web.config files can also contain application specific items such as database connection strings . The Machine.Config file, which specifies the settings that are global to a particular machine. This file is located at the following path \WINNT\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[Framework Version]\CONFIG\machine.config

Vineet Kumar Saini · Answer

Thanks Javed Ji....

Javeed M Shaikh · Answer

hi Vineet, The settings made in the Web.config file are applied to that particular web application only whereas the settings of Machine.config file are applied to the whole asp.net application. Recommended articles from C#Corner: http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/puranindia/WebConfigurationFile11112009054541AM/WebConfigurationFile.aspx m ore differences can be found here: http://24x7aspnet.blogspot.com/2009/06/difference-between-webconfig-and.html P lease do not forget to mark "Accepted Answer".

What is machine.config and web.config in ASP.NET

Answers (4)