What is the Difference Between Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect?

The main difference between Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect lies in how they transfer a user from one web page to another. Here are the key differences:

• Response.Redirect:
• Redirects the request to a new URL, updating the address bar and adding the new URL to the browser history.
• The browser sends an HTTP request to the server, and the server delivers a response to the browser.
• The client is aware of the redirection, and it is slower due to the extra round trip between the client and the server.
• Suitable for redirecting to external websites or upgrading to a new version of a web page.
• Server.Transfer:
• Terminates the execution of the current page and starts the execution of a new page using the specified URL.
• Occurs entirely on the server, without the client's knowledge.
• Faster as it does not involve an extra round trip between the client and the server.
• Can only be used for sites running on the same server, and the previous page remains in server memory.

In summary, Response.Redirect is used to redirect a user to a new URL, updating the address bar and browser history, while Server.Transfer transfers execution to a new page without the client's knowledge, making it faster and suitable for internal transfers within the same server.

Comparative Table: Server.Transfer vs Response.Redirect

Here is a table comparing the differences between Server.Transfer and Response.Redirect:

In summary, Response.Redirect is used when you want the client to be aware of the redirection and perform additional roundtrips to the server, while Server.Transfer is used when you want to perform the redirection without the client's knowledge and without causing additional roundtrips to the server.