URL generation constructs links and endpoint URLs from ASP.NET Core routing configuration instead of embedding URL patterns directly in application code. Razor views can use the asp-action tag helper to create links to controller actions, while endpoint code can use named routes and LinkGenerator to create paths from route values. section 3.2.4 section 13.1.6
Use framework-managed URL generation to keep links aligned with routing decisions:
- Add asp-action="RsvpForm" to an anchor in an MVC view; Razor renders an href such as /Home/RsvpForm for the current controller. section 3.2.4
- Name a target route with RouteNameMetadata so generated links select the intended endpoint rather than merely the best matching route. section 13.1.6
- Obtain LinkGenerator through dependency injection and call GetPathByRouteValues with HttpContext, the route name, and segment values. section 13.1.6
- Change a route pattern without rewriting the code that generates its URL; the named route can move from /population/{city} to /size/{city}. section 13.1.6
Redirecting from a capital endpoint
A request to /capital/monaco reaches the Capital endpoint. The endpoint obtains LinkGenerator from request services, generates a path for the named population route with city="monaco", and uses that URL for the redirect. Changing the route pattern to size/{city} preserves the generation code while changing the resulting destination.
