ASP.Net Timer vs. UpdatePanel

Developers using ASP.Net could easily establish and Ajax based application through two functions in ASP.Net. Developers could either go for the ASP.Net Timer wherein the update is made automatically. The information is feed to the user without the need for use actions.

On the other hand, UpdatePanel allows developers to set appropriate reaction of the application. Both of these functions target a specific area of the webpage and update it without changing the whole webpage.

ASP.Net has become a very powerful Ajax framework because of these functions. UpdatePanel in particular have been discussed extensively by various developers as they try to figure out how to harness the power of the UpdatePanel and use it effectively.

ASP.Net Timer could be used by developers to queue some functions. Ajax communication and functions still has to be queued even with multiple pathways for communication. With timers, Ajax could let the server breathe a little bit as it executes the functions one by one.

However, the concerns of most developers in using timers in ASP.Net are basically its behavior. ASP.Net Timer could behave unexpectedly executing some functions too fast or too slow (which is mostly the case). This reason might be cause for most developers to move a away a bit from ASP.Net. Still, it is still a good function to be used.

On the other hand, ASP.Net UpdatePanel has been the ideal tool for most Ajax developers. The UpdatePanel lets the developers built a good looking Ajax based website without coding too much.

As a framework, it provides the necessary functions that you need for your website. The library that could be used in UpdatePanel is very extensive and the execution is very easy. The downside of UpdatePanel however lies on its size. The coding is very easy but the UpdatePanel compensates by expanding the function to be bigger so that it could be used in a website eventually.

ASP.Net’s Timer and UpdatePanel are both powerful functions that could be used by developers in their application or website. However, these functions as much as possible should never be used together.

In fact, some developers have found these functions to be catastrophic when they are used together. The reason: Timers and UpdatePanel will be at odds with each other when they are focused on a webpage.

The intervals that the developer sets on the application could be changed unknowingly by the UpdatePanel. Whether or not you are dealing with a long or short interval each function might be changed by the Timer and then by the UpdatePanel or vice versa.

For longer intervals, it is highly recommended to choose either of the two. For shorter intervals of the function a light weight alternative is recommended instead of Timer and UpdatePanel. These functions, in paper, should be able to execute short interval-functions but the size of these ASP.Net functions might drag the application instead of speeding it up.

Timer and UpdatePanel are two powerful functions of ASP.Net. However, developers have to take certain considerations before these functions are actually used in their webpage or applications.