Fundamentals - Dependency injection (services)

Overview of dependency injection

public class MyDependency
{
    public void WriteMessage(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"MyDependency.WriteMessage called. Message: {message}");
    }
}

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly MyDependency _dependency = new MyDependency();

    public void OnGet()
    {
        _dependency.WriteMessage("IndexModel.OnGet");
    }
}

To replace MyDependency with a different implementation, the IndexModel class must be modified.
If MyDependency has dependencies, they must also be configured by the IndexModel class. In a large project with multiple classes depending on MyDependency, the configuration code becomes scattered across the app.
This implementation is difficult to unit test.
The use of an interface or base class to abstract the dependency implementation.
Registration of the dependency in a service container. ASP.NET Core provides a built-in service container, IServiceProvider. Services are typically registered in the app's Program.cs file.
Injection of the service into the constructor of the class where it's used. The framework takes on the responsibility of creating an instance of the dependency and disposing of it when it's no longer needed.

public interface IMyDependency
{
    void WriteMessage(string message);
}

public class MyDependency : IMyDependency
{
    public void WriteMessage(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"MyDependency.WriteMessage Message: {message}");
    }
}

using DependencyInjectionSample.Interfaces;
using DependencyInjectionSample.Services;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyDependency, MyDependency>();

var app = builder.Build();

public class Index2Model : PageModel
{
    private readonly IMyDependency _myDependency;

    public Index2Model(IMyDependency myDependency)
    {
        _myDependency = myDependency;            
    }

    public void OnGet()
    {
        _myDependency.WriteMessage("Index2Model.OnGet");
    }
}

Doesn't use the concrete type MyDependency, only the IMyDependency interface it implements. That makes it easy to change the implementation without modifying the controller or Razor Page.
Doesn't create an instance of MyDependency, it's created by the DI container.

public class MyDependency2 : IMyDependency
{
    private readonly ILogger<MyDependency2> _logger;

    public MyDependency2(ILogger<MyDependency2> logger)
    {
        _logger = logger;
    }

    public void WriteMessage(string message)
    {
        _logger.LogInformation( $"MyDependency2.WriteMessage Message: {message}");
    }
}

using DependencyInjectionSample.Interfaces;
using DependencyInjectionSample.Services;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyDependency, MyDependency2>();

var app = builder.Build();

Is typically an object that provides a service to other objects, such as the IMyDependency service.
Is not related to a web service, although the service may use a web service.

public class AboutModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly ILogger _logger;

    public AboutModel(ILogger<AboutModel> logger)
    {
        _logger = logger;
    }
    
    public string Message { get; set; } = string.Empty;

    public void OnGet()
    {
        Message = $"About page visited at {DateTime.UtcNow.ToLongTimeString()}";
        _logger.LogInformation(Message);
    }
}

Register groups of services with extension methods

using DependencyInjectionSample.Data;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Identity;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

var connectionString = builder.Configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection");
builder.Services.AddDbContext<ApplicationDbContext>(options =>
    options.UseSqlServer(connectionString));
builder.Services.AddDatabaseDeveloperPageExceptionFilter();

builder.Services.AddDefaultIdentity<IdentityUser>(options => options.SignIn.RequireConfirmedAccount = true)
    .AddEntityFrameworkStores<ApplicationDbContext>();
builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

var app = builder.Build();

using ConfigSample.Options;
using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ConfigSample.Options;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.Configure<PositionOptions>(
    builder.Configuration.GetSection(PositionOptions.Position));
builder.Services.Configure<ColorOptions>(
    builder.Configuration.GetSection(ColorOptions.Color));

builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyDependency, MyDependency>();
builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyDependency2, MyDependency2>();

var app = builder.Build();

using ConfigSample.Options;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;

namespace Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection
{
    public static class MyConfigServiceCollectionExtensions
    {
        public static IServiceCollection AddConfig(
             this IServiceCollection services, IConfiguration config)
        {
            services.Configure<PositionOptions>(
                config.GetSection(PositionOptions.Position));
            services.Configure<ColorOptions>(
                config.GetSection(ColorOptions.Color));

            return services;
        }

        public static IServiceCollection AddMyDependencyGroup(
             this IServiceCollection services)
        {
            services.AddScoped<IMyDependency, MyDependency>();
            services.AddScoped<IMyDependency2, MyDependency2>();

            return services;
        }
    }
}

using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection.ConfigSample.Options;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services
    .AddConfig(builder.Configuration)
    .AddMyDependencyGroup();

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

var app = builder.Build();

Service lifetimes

Inject the service into the middleware's Invoke or InvokeAsync method. Using constructor injection throws a runtime exception because it forces the scoped service to behave like a singleton. The sample in the Lifetime and registration options section demonstrates the InvokeAsync approach.
Use Factory-based middleware. Middleware registered using this approach is activated per client request (connection), which allows scoped services to be injected into the middleware's constructor.

Service registration methods

services.AddSingleton<IMyDependency, MyDependency>();
services.AddSingleton<IMyDependency, DifferentDependency>();

public class MyService
{
    public MyService(IMyDependency myDependency, 
       IEnumerable<IMyDependency> myDependencies)
    {
        Trace.Assert(myDependency is DifferentDependency);

        var dependencyArray = myDependencies.ToArray();
        Trace.Assert(dependencyArray[0] is MyDependency);
        Trace.Assert(dependencyArray[1] is DifferentDependency);
    }
}

Keyed services

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddKeyedSingleton<ICache, BigCache>("big");
builder.Services.AddKeyedSingleton<ICache, SmallCache>("small");
builder.Services.AddControllers();

var app = builder.Build();

app.MapGet("/big", ([FromKeyedServices("big")] ICache bigCache) => bigCache.Get("date"));
app.MapGet("/small", ([FromKeyedServices("small")] ICache smallCache) =>
                                                               smallCache.Get("date"));

app.MapControllers();

app.Run();

public interface ICache
{
    object Get(string key);
}
public class BigCache : ICache
{
    public object Get(string key) => $"Resolving {key} from big cache.";
}

public class SmallCache : ICache
{
    public object Get(string key) => $"Resolving {key} from small cache.";
}

[ApiController]
[Route("/cache")]
public class CustomServicesApiController : Controller
{
    [HttpGet("big-cache")]
    public ActionResult<object> GetOk([FromKeyedServices("big")] ICache cache)
    {
        return cache.Get("data-mvc");
    }
}

public class MyHub : Hub
{
    public void Method([FromKeyedServices("small")] ICache cache)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(cache.Get("signalr"));
    }
}

Constructor injection behavior

Entity Framework contexts

Lifetime and registration options

public interface IOperation
{
    string OperationId { get; }
}

public interface IOperationTransient : IOperation { }
public interface IOperationScoped : IOperation { }
public interface IOperationSingleton : IOperation { }

public class Operation : IOperationTransient, IOperationScoped, IOperationSingleton
{
    public Operation()
    {
        OperationId = Guid.NewGuid().ToString()[^4..];
    }

    public string OperationId { get; }
}

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.AddTransient<IOperationTransient, Operation>();
builder.Services.AddScoped<IOperationScoped, Operation>();
builder.Services.AddSingleton<IOperationSingleton, Operation>();

var app = builder.Build();

if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
    app.UseExceptionHandler("/Error");
    app.UseHsts();
}

app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();

app.UseMyMiddleware();
app.UseRouting();

app.UseAuthorization();

app.MapRazorPages();

app.Run();

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly ILogger _logger;
    private readonly IOperationTransient _transientOperation;
    private readonly IOperationSingleton _singletonOperation;
    private readonly IOperationScoped _scopedOperation;

    public IndexModel(ILogger<IndexModel> logger,
                      IOperationTransient transientOperation,
                      IOperationScoped scopedOperation,
                      IOperationSingleton singletonOperation)
    {
        _logger = logger;
        _transientOperation = transientOperation;
        _scopedOperation    = scopedOperation;
        _singletonOperation = singletonOperation;
    }

    public void  OnGet()
    {
        _logger.LogInformation("Transient: " + _transientOperation.OperationId);
        _logger.LogInformation("Scoped: "    + _scopedOperation.OperationId);
        _logger.LogInformation("Singleton: " + _singletonOperation.OperationId);
    }
}

public class MyMiddleware
{
    private readonly RequestDelegate _next;
    private readonly ILogger _logger;

    private readonly IOperationSingleton _singletonOperation;

    public MyMiddleware(RequestDelegate next, ILogger<MyMiddleware> logger,
        IOperationSingleton singletonOperation)
    {
        _logger = logger;
        _singletonOperation = singletonOperation;
        _next = next;
    }

    public async Task InvokeAsync(HttpContext context,
        IOperationTransient transientOperation, IOperationScoped scopedOperation)
    {
        _logger.LogInformation("Transient: " + transientOperation.OperationId);
        _logger.LogInformation("Scoped: " + scopedOperation.OperationId);
        _logger.LogInformation("Singleton: " + _singletonOperation.OperationId);

        await _next(context);
    }
}

public static class MyMiddlewareExtensions
{
    public static IApplicationBuilder UseMyMiddleware(this IApplicationBuilder builder)
    {
        return builder.UseMiddleware<MyMiddleware>();
    }
}

public async Task InvokeAsync(HttpContext context,
    IOperationTransient transientOperation, IOperationScoped scopedOperation)
{
    _logger.LogInformation("Transient: " + transientOperation.OperationId);
    _logger.LogInformation("Scoped: " + scopedOperation.OperationId);
    _logger.LogInformation("Singleton: " + _singletonOperation.OperationId);

    await _next(context);
}

Transient objects are always different. The transient OperationId value is different in the IndexModel and in the middleware.
Scoped objects are the same for a given request but differ across each new request.
Singleton objects are the same for every request.

{
  "MyKey": "MyKey from appsettings.Developement.json",
  "Logging": {
    "LogLevel": {
      "Default": "Information",
      "System": "Debug",
      "Microsoft": "Error"
    }
  }
}

Resolve a service at app start up

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddScoped<IMyDependency, MyDependency>();

var app = builder.Build();

using (var serviceScope = app.Services.CreateScope())
{
    var services = serviceScope.ServiceProvider;

    var myDependency = services.GetRequiredService<IMyDependency>();
    myDependency.WriteMessage("Call services from main");
}

app.MapGet("/", () => "Hello World!");

app.Run();

Scope validation

Request Services

Note Prefer requesting dependencies as constructor parameters over resolving services from RequestServices. Requesting dependencies as constructor parameters yields classes that are easier to test.

Design services for dependency injection

Avoid stateful, static classes and members. Avoid creating global state by designing apps to use singleton services instead.
Avoid direct instantiation of dependent classes within services. Direct instantiation couples the code to a particular implementation.
Make services small, well-factored, and easily tested.

Disposal of services

public class Service1 : IDisposable
{
    private bool _disposed;

    public void Write(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Service1: {message}");
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (_disposed)
            return;

        Console.WriteLine("Service1.Dispose");
        _disposed = true;
    }
}

public class Service2 : IDisposable
{
    private bool _disposed;

    public void Write(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Service2: {message}");
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (_disposed)
            return;

        Console.WriteLine("Service2.Dispose");
        _disposed = true;
    }
}

public interface IService3
{
    public void Write(string message);
}

public class Service3 : IService3, IDisposable
{
    private bool _disposed;

    public Service3(string myKey)
    {
        MyKey = myKey;
    }

    public string MyKey { get; }

    public void Write(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Service3: {message}, MyKey = {MyKey}");
    }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        if (_disposed)
            return;

        Console.WriteLine("Service3.Dispose");
        _disposed = true;
    }
}

using DIsample2.Services;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.AddScoped<Service1>();
builder.Services.AddSingleton<Service2>();

var myKey = builder.Configuration["MyKey"];
builder.Services.AddSingleton<IService3>(sp => new Service3(myKey));

var app = builder.Build();

public class IndexModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly Service1 _service1;
    private readonly Service2 _service2;
    private readonly IService3 _service3;

    public IndexModel(Service1 service1, Service2 service2, IService3 service3)
    {
        _service1 = service1;
        _service2 = service2;
        _service3 = service3;
    }

    public void OnGet()
    {
        _service1.Write("IndexModel.OnGet");
        _service2.Write("IndexModel.OnGet");
        _service3.Write("IndexModel.OnGet");
    }
}

Service1: IndexModel.OnGet
Service2: IndexModel.OnGet
Service3: IndexModel.OnGet, MyKey = MyKey from appsettings.Developement.json
Service1.Dispose

Services not created by the service container

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddRazorPages();

builder.Services.AddSingleton(new Service1());
builder.Services.AddSingleton(new Service2());

The service instances aren't created by the service container.
The framework doesn't dispose of the services automatically.
The developer is responsible for disposing the services.

IDisposable guidance for Transient and shared instances

Default service container replacement

Recommendations

Avoid using the service locator pattern. For example, don't invoke GetService to obtain a service instance when you can use DI instead: Incorrect:

Correct: public class MyClass { private readonly IOptionsMonitor _optionsMonitor;

public MyClass(IOptionsMonitor<MyOptions> optionsMonitor)
{
    _optionsMonitor = optionsMonitor;
}

public void MyMethod()
{
    var option = _optionsMonitor.CurrentValue.Option;

    ...
}

}

public class MyClass
{
    private readonly IOptionsMonitor<MyOptions> _optionsMonitor;

    public MyClass(IOptionsMonitor<MyOptions> optionsMonitor)
    {
        _optionsMonitor = optionsMonitor;
    }

    public void MyMethod()
    {
        var option = _optionsMonitor.CurrentValue.Option;

        ...
    }
}

Another service locator variation to avoid is injecting a factory that resolves dependencies at runtime. Both of these practices mix Inversion of Control strategies.
Avoid static access to HttpContext (for example, IHttpContextAccessor.HttpContext).

Recommended patterns for multi-tenancy in DI

Framework-provided services

Service Type	Lifetime
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.Builder.IApplicationBuilderFactory	Transient
IHostApplicationLifetime	Singleton
IWebHostEnvironment	Singleton
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.IStartup	Singleton
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.IStartupFilter	Transient
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Hosting.Server.IServer	Singleton
Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextFactory	Transient
Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.ILogger<TCategoryName>	Singleton
Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.ILoggerFactory	Singleton
Microsoft.Extensions.ObjectPool.ObjectPoolProvider	Singleton
Microsoft.Extensions.Options.IConfigureOptions<TOptions>	Transient
Microsoft.Extensions.Options.IOptions<TOptions>	Singleton
System.Diagnostics.DiagnosticSource	Singleton
System.Diagnostics.DiagnosticListener	Singleton

Additional resources

Dependency injection into views in ASP.NET Core
Dependency injection into controllers in ASP.NET Core
Dependency injection in requirement handlers in ASP.NET Core
ASP.NET Core Blazor dependency injection
NDC Conference Patterns for DI app development
App startup in ASP.NET Core
Factory-based middleware activation in ASP.NET Core
Understand dependency injection basics in .NET
Dependency injection guidelines
Tutorial: Use dependency injection in .NET
.NET dependency injection
ASP.NET CORE DEPENDENCY INJECTION: WHAT IS THE ISERVICECOLLECTION?
Four ways to dispose IDisposables in ASP.NET Core
Writing Clean Code in ASP.NET Core with Dependency Injection (MSDN)
Explicit Dependencies Principle
Inversion of Control Containers and the Dependency Injection Pattern (Martin Fowler)
How to register a service with multiple interfaces in ASP.NET Core DI

Ref: Dependency injection in ASP.NET Core

Tags: Summary AspNetCore

Fundamentals - Dependency injection (services)

In this article

Overview of dependency injection

Register groups of services with extension methods

Service lifetimes

Service registration methods

Keyed services

Constructor injection behavior

Entity Framework contexts

Lifetime and registration options

Resolve a service at app start up

Scope validation

Request Services

Design services for dependency injection

Disposal of services

Services not created by the service container

IDisposable guidance for Transient and shared instances

Default service container replacement

Recommendations

Recommended patterns for multi-tenancy in DI

Framework-provided services

Additional resources