Top 20 .
NET Core
Interview Questions
1. What is .NET Core?
A free, open-source, cross-platform
framework developed by Microsoft for
building modern apps (web, desktop, cloud,
IoT, etc.).
2. What are the main differences
between .NET Core and .NET Framework?
• Cross-platform (.NET Core is, .NET
Framework isn't)
• Modular and lightweight
• Open-source
• No Web Forms in .NET Core
3. What is the Startup.cs file used for?
It configures services (ConfigureServices)
and the app's HTTP request pipeline
(Configure).
4. What is Middleware in .NET Core?
Middleware are software components
assembled into the app pipeline to handle
requests and responses.
5. What is the use of appsettings.json?
Used to store configuration settings (like DB
strings, logging levels) in key-value format.
6. What is Dependency Injection in .NET
Core?
Built-in design pattern that injects required
dependencies into classes rather than
creating them directly.
7. What are the different service
lifetimes in DI?
• Transient
• Scoped
• Singleton
8. How is routing handled in .NET Core?
Routing is handled via endpoints or attribute
routing in controllers. Also configurable in
Program.cs or Startup.cs.
9. What is Kestrel?
A cross-platform web server used by .NET
Core to host web applications.
10. What is the difference between
IApplicationBuilder and
IServiceCollection?
• IServiceCollection: Registers services
with DI container.
• IApplicationBuilder: Builds the
middleware pipeline.
11. What is Model Binding in ASP.NET
Core?
It maps HTTP request data (query, form,
route) to action method parameters.
12. What is the difference between
AddControllers() and AddMvc()?
• AddControllers() → Only API controller
support
• AddMvc() → Adds both MVC and Razor
view support
13. How do you enable CORS in .NET
Core?
services.AddCors();
app.UseCors(builder =>
builder.AllowAnyOrigin().AllowAnyMethod().A
llowAnyHeader());
14. What is the purpose of
app.UseRouting() and app.UseEndpoints()?
• UseRouting() enables route matching.
• UseEndpoints() defines what to do once a
route is matched.
15. How do you handle exceptions
globally in .NET Core?
Using app.UseExceptionHandler() or
Middleware.
16. What is Minimal API in .NET 6+?
A way to build lightweight APIs with less
boilerplate code using top-level statements.
17. How do you implement logging in
.NET Core?
Use built-in ILogger<T> or third-party
providers like Serilog, NLog.
18. What is the difference between
IHttpClientFactory and HttpClient?
IHttpClientFactory improves usage by
pooling and managing HttpClient instances
to avoid socket exhaustion.
19. What are Tag Helpers in Razor
Pages?
Server-side components used to generate
HTML elements dynamically in Razor views
(e.g., asp-for, asp-action).
20. How do you secure an API in .NET
Core?
• Use JWT Authentication
• Add Authorize attribute
• Use Identity, OAuth2, or OpenID
Connect for authentication/authorization
