displayfor

Displayfor is a helper used in ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Core Razor views to render the value of a model property using display templates. It provides a read-only representation of data, formatted according to metadata or a custom template, rather than an editable input.

The helper works by taking a lambda expression that identifies a model property and consulting metadata such as DisplayName, DataType, and UIHint to determine how the value should be presented. It relies on DisplayTemplates, which are Razor templates located in Views/Shared/DisplayTemplates or in a controller’s Views/{Controller}/DisplayTemplates, and can be extended with custom templates for specific types or UI hints. When the value is a collection, Displayfor renders each item with the appropriate template.

Displayfor complements EditorFor by focusing on display rather than editing. In ASP.NET Core, the method signature is IHtmlHelper.DisplayFor<TModel, TValue>(Expression<Func<TModel, TValue>> expression), and it returns HTML content. DisplayForModel can render the entire model. Developers can influence rendering by creating templates named after a type (e.g., DateTime) or by using UIHint-based names, and by applying data annotations such as DisplayName and DataType to influence formatting.

Usage in a view is typically straightforward: calling DisplayFor with a property renders that property using the recommended template. For example, a birth date might be shown via a date template, while a complex object can render using its own nested template. The approach promotes consistency across views and supports localization and centralized formatting.

Limitations include reliance on the presence of appropriate templates; without templates, output may default to minimal rendering based on the type. Proper template naming and placement are essential for effective use.