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What is Kestrel and why does ASP.NET Core use it?

Entry .NET Core
Quick Answer Kestrel is ASP.NET Core's built-in, cross-platform HTTP server — fast, lightweight, and runs on any OS without IIS. In production, it's typically placed behind a reverse proxy (nginx, IIS) for TLS termination and load balancing. Kestrel handles the raw HTTP connections; the proxy handles the internet-facing concerns.

Answer

Kestrel is the built-in, cross-platform, high-performance web server for ASP.NET Core.

It is optimized for asynchronous I/O, low memory overhead, and extremely fast request handling, making it suitable for both self-hosted scenarios and running behind reverse proxies such as Nginx, Apache, or IIS.

ASP.NET Core uses Kestrel because it delivers excellent throughput, works on all supported platforms, integrates deeply with the middleware pipeline, and gives developers full control over how requests are processed.

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SugharaIQ Editorial Team Verified Answer

This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.

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Source: SugharaIQ

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