What is @RenderSection in asp.net MVC

asp.net Mvc Problem Overview

What is the purpose of @RenderSection and how does it function? I understand what bundles do, but I have yet to figure out what this does and it's probably important.

@RenderSection("scripts", required: false)

Perhaps a small example on how to use it?

asp.net Mvc Solutions

Solution 1 - asp.net Mvc

If you have a _Layout.cshtml view like this

<html>
    <body>
        @RenderBody()
        @RenderSection("scripts", required: false)
    </body>
</html>

then you can have an index.cshtml content view like this

@section scripts {
     <script type="text/javascript">alert('hello');</script>
}

the required indicates whether or not the view using the layout page must have a scripts section

Solution 2 - asp.net Mvc

(1) you have a _Layout.cshtml view like this

<html>
    <body>
        @RenderBody()
       
    </body>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="~/lib/layout.js"></script>
    @RenderSection("scripts", required: false)
</html>

(2) you have Contacts.cshtml

@section Scripts{
    <script type="text/javascript" src="~/lib/contacts.js"></script>

}
<div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6 col-md-offset-3">
        <h2>    Contacts</h2>
    </div>
</div>

(3) you have About.cshtml

<div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6 col-md-offset-3">
        <h2>    Contacts</h2>
    </div>
</div>

On you layout page, if required is set to false "@RenderSection("scripts", required: false)", When page renders and user is on about page, the contacts.js doesn't render.

    <html>
        <body><div>About<div>             
        </body>
        <script type="text/javascript" src="~/lib/layout.js"></script>
    </html>

if required is set to true "@RenderSection("scripts", required: true)", When page renders and user is on ABOUT page, the contacts.js STILL gets rendered.

<html>
    <body><div>About<div>             
    </body>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="~/lib/layout.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript" src="~/lib/contacts.js"></script>
</html>

IN SHORT, when set to true, whether you need it or not on other pages, it will get rendered anyhow. If set to false, it will render only when the child page is rendered.

Solution 3 - asp.net Mvc

Suppose if I have GetAllEmployees.cshtml

<h2>GetAllEmployees</h2>

<p>
    <a asp-action="Create">Create New</a>
</p>
<table class="table">
    <thead>
         // do something ...
    </thead>
    <tbody>
       // do something ...
    </tbody>
</table>

   //Added my custom scripts in the scripts sections

@section Scripts
    {
    <script src="~/js/customScripts.js"></script>
    }

And another view "GetEmployeeDetails.cshtml" with no scripts

<h2>GetEmployeeByDetails</h2>

@Model.PageTitle
<p>
    <a asp-action="Create">Create New</a>
</p>
<table class="table">
    <thead>
       // do something ... 
    </thead>
    <tbody>
       // do something ...
    </tbody>
</table>

And my layout page "_layout.cshtml"

@RenderSection("Scripts", required: true)

So, when I navigate to GetEmployeeDetails.cshtml. I get the error that there is no section scripts to be rendered in GetEmployeeDetails.cshtml. If I change the flag in @RenderSection() from required : true to ``required : false`. It means render the scripts defined in the @section scripts of the views if present.Else, do nothing. And the refined approach would be in _layout.cshtml

@if (IsSectionDefined("Scripts"))
    {
        @RenderSection("Scripts", required: true)
    }

Solution 4 - asp.net Mvc

Here the defination of Rendersection from MSDN > In layout pages, renders the content of a named section.[MSDN][1]

In _layout.cs page put

@RenderSection("Bottom",false)

Here render the content of bootom section and specifies false boolean property to specify whether the section is required or not.

@section Bottom{
       This message form bottom.
}

That meaning if you want to bottom section in all pages, then you must use false as the second parameter at Rendersection method. [1]: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.web.webpages.webpagebase.rendersection(v=vs.99)

Content Type	Original Author	Original Content on Stackoverflow
Question	Aflred	View Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - asp.net Mvc	cgijbels	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - asp.net Mvc	Maria Jesusa Galapon	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - asp.net Mvc	Vijay	View Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - asp.net Mvc	Brijesh Mavani	View Answer on Stackoverflow