Скачать или смотреть Choosing the Right Data Model for Tables in Blazor Web Apps

Discover effective strategies for creating and managing tables in Blazor with the right data model to meet your needs.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/73003574/ asked by the user 'wetfield' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19331755/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/73042984/ provided by the user 'John' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/18224693/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding the Data Model for Tables in Blazor Web Apps

When developing a .NET 6 Blazor web application, one of the common requirements is to present data in a structured format, such as HTML tables. This article delves into a specific inquiry: how to efficiently organize data tables in a Blazor app based on information received from an API in JSON format.

The Challenge: Displaying Tabular Data

In our case, we need to display complex tabular data that can include multiple columns and potentially varies in size. For instance, consider a table format that looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The data is fetched from an API returning a structure that resembles:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Data Manipulation Needs

Furthermore, aside from displaying the data, you might also want to perform calculations, such as determining averages across rows in your data model. The initial thought for a data structure involves creating a class like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Evaluating the Proposed Data Structure

Is This a Good Approach?

While the proposed approach serves a purpose, there are improvements that can be made. In scenarios where flexibility is essential (like displaying both numeric and string data), it's advisable to consider a more accommodating data type.

Recommended Changes

Use Strings Instead of Decimals:
It's recommended to use Dictionary<string, string> instead of Dictionary<string, decimal?>. This change allows for optional row and column headers more conveniently since you can substitute them with an empty string when necessary. Moreover, converting decimals to strings can be handled easily when needed.

Handling Optional Headers:
For optional headers, the introduction of an empty string is a practical solution. This way, the data model can gracefully accommodate any missing headers without complicating the structure.

Extending Data Types:
If there's a requirement to include string data within your tables, take advantage of generics. By designing your data structure to accept different types, you can avoid the pitfalls of restricting it only to numbers, allowing for greater versatility.

Example Updated Data Model

Applying the recommendation, your DataTable class might look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion: Make the Right Choice

Selecting the correct data model for displaying tables in Blazor is critical for the performance and flexibility of your application. By implementing the suggested changes—using strings instead of decimals and allowing for optional headers—you create a data structure that is not only robust but also adaptable to varying types of data.

Utilizing a well-structured and flexible data model will ultimately enhance your Blazor application, making it easier to manage and display tabular data efficiently.



By understanding how to design your data model for tables in Blazor, you can enhance the functionality and user experience of your web applications. Make sure to tailor the data types to your specific needs to ensure a smooth development process.