Kestrel
Kestrel is the cross-platform HTTP server implementation used by ASP.NET Core to receive and process HTTP traffic.
ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e
Kestrel is the cross-platform web server included with ASP.NET Core for receiving and sending HTTP traffic.
- How it is used
- Receives and sends HTTP traffic for an ASP.NET Core application while its application code produces the response.
- How deep it goes
- Explains request conversion into HttpContext and compares deployment arrangements, but does not detail Kestrel’s protocol implementation.
- Examples
- Uses a company information page and direct-versus-reverse-proxy hosting diagrams to show request flow.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure it by choosing direct or reverse-proxy hosting and configuring a production HTTPS certificate when Kestrel handles TLS.
Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core
Kestrel is an open-source, cross-platform, event-driven, asynchronous HTTP server implementation for ASP.NET Core.
- How it is used
- Runs an ASP.NET Core web API locally through a selectable Visual Studio launch profile.
- How deep it goes
- Defines Kestrel’s server role and launch configuration but does not descend into server internals.
- Examples
- Uses MyBGList tester settings, TCP ports 55221 and 55222, a BoardGames endpoint, and board-game JSON output.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure Kestrel by selecting its profile, assigning ports, choosing an environment, and verifying the launched API response.
Read how Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core explains Kestrel →
Related concepts
- serverkind of · A server is a computer system or software process that receives requests from clients or other systems and provides resources, data, or services in response.
- ASP.NET Coreused by · ASP.NET Core is Microsoft’s cross-platform, open-source framework for building web applications and services on the .NET platform.
- launchSettings.jsonconfigured by · launchSettings.json is a .NET development configuration file defining local launch profiles and settings such as URLs, ports, and environment variables.
- kestrel:certificates:defaultconfigured by · Kestrel:Certificates:Default is an ASP.NET Core configuration section that specifies the default certificate and access credentials for Kestrel HTTPS connections.
- UseTestServeralternative to · UseTestServer is an ASP.NET Core hosting extension method that configures an application to use TestServer instead of a network web server.
- HttpContextproduces · HttpContext is the ASP.NET Core object representing the information, state, and features associated with a single HTTP request and its response.
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