Since .NET 6, Microsoft has introduced a new way to build REST APIs: Minimal APIs. At first, they seemed useful only for quick demos or ultra-light microservices. But today, they’ve matured enough to be seriously considered for real-world applications.
What Exactly Are Minimal APIs?
Minimal APIs are a lightweight way to define endpoints in .NET — without controllers, attributes, or extra boilerplate. The result is cleaner, more direct code.
You write this:
app.MapGet("/users/{id}", (int id) => new { Id = id, Name = "Alice" });
Instead of this:
[ApiController]
[Route("api/[controller]")]
public class UsersController : ControllerBase
{
[HttpGet("{id}")]
public IActionResult GetUser(int id) => Ok(new { Id = id, Name = "Alice" });
}
Key Benefits
- Less boilerplate
No need for controllers, attributes, or routing setups.
- Perfect for microservices
If you’re building small, focused, or serverless APIs, this is a great fit.
- Faster development
Writing, testing, and maintaining endpoints becomes much simpler.
- Better performance
Fewer layers can result in faster responses in certain scenarios
When to Use Them
- Prototypes or MVPs
- Microservices and background APIs
- Simple REST functionalities
- Lightweight apps without heavy auth/validation needs
When Not to Use Them
- Large-scale applications with complex business logic
- Projects that require controller layers, filters, custom middleware, etc.
In those cases, the traditional MVC approach remains more scalable and organized.
Final Thoughts
Minimal APIs don’t replace the entire framework, but they add a powerful option to the .NET developer’s toolkit. If you haven’t tried them yet, you’re missing out on a faster, more agile way to build APIs.
It’s not about choosing “new” or “old” — it’s about picking the right tool for the right job.