Reading a file line by line is useful when handling large files without loading everything into memory at once.
✅ Best Practice: Use File.ReadLines() which is more memory efficient.
Example
foreach (string line in File.ReadLines("file.txt")) { Console.WriteLine(line); }
Why use ReadLines()?
Reads one line at a time, reducing overall memory usage. Ideal for large files (e.g., logs, CSVs).
Alternative: Use StreamReader (More Control)
For scenarios where you need custom processing while reading the contents of the file:
using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader("file.txt")) { string? line; while ((line = reader.ReadLine()) != null) { Console.WriteLine(line); } }
Why use StreamReader?
Lets you handle exceptions, encoding, and buffering. Supports custom processing (e.g., search for a keyword while reading).
When to Use ReadAllLines()? If you need all lines at once, use:
string[] lines = File.ReadAllLines("file.txt");
Caution: Loads the entire file into memory—avoid for large files!
Using SqlDataReader asynchronously prevents blocking the main thread, improving performance in web apps and large queries. Here’s how to do it properly.
Use await with ExecuteReaderAsync()
using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connectionString)) { await conn.OpenAsync(); using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Users", conn)) using (SqlDataReader reader = await cmd.ExecuteReaderAsync()) { while (await reader.ReadAsync()) { Console.WriteLine(reader["Username"]); } } // ✅ Auto-closes reader } // ✅ Auto-closes connection
Why use async?
A couple of reasons:
⚡ Alternative: ConfigureAwait(false) for ASP.NET
Use ConfigureAwait(false) in library code to avoid deadlocks in UI frameworks like ASP.NET.
using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connectionString)) { await conn.OpenAsync().ConfigureAwait(false); using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Users", conn)) using (SqlDataReader reader = await cmd.ExecuteReaderAsync().ConfigureAwait(false)) { while (await reader.ReadAsync().ConfigureAwait(false)) { Console.WriteLine(reader["Username"]); } } }
Storing passwords as plain text is dangerous. Instead, you should hash them using a strong, slow hashing algorithm like BCrypt, which includes built-in salting and resistance to brute-force attacks.
Step 1: Install BCrypt NuGet Package
Before using BCrypt, install the BCrypt.Net-Next package:
dotnet add package BCrypt.Net-Next
or via NuGet Package Manager:
Install-Package BCrypt.Net-Next
Step 2: Hash a Password
Use BCrypt.HashPassword() to securely hash a password before storing it:
using BCrypt.Net; string password = "mySecurePassword123"; string hashedPassword = BCrypt.HashPassword(password); Console.WriteLine(hashedPassword); // Output: $2a$12$...
Step 3: Verify a Password
To check a user's login attempt, use BCrypt.Verify():
bool isMatch = BCrypt.Verify("mySecurePassword123", hashedPassword); Console.WriteLine(isMatch); // Output: True
Ensuring proper hashing should be at the top of your list when it comes to building authentication systems.
Slow initial load times can drive users away from your React application. One powerful technique to improve performance is lazy loading - loading components only when they're needed.
Let's explore how to implement this in React.
By default, React bundles all your components together, forcing users to download everything upfront. This makes navigation much quicker and more streamlined once this initial download is complete.
However, depending on the size of your application, it could also create a long initial load time.
import HeavyComponent from './HeavyComponent'; import AnotherHeavyComponent from './AnotherHeavyComponent'; function App() { return ( <div> {/* These components load even if user never sees them */} <HeavyComponent /> <AnotherHeavyComponent /> </div> ); }
React.lazy() lets you defer loading components until they're actually needed:
import React, { lazy, Suspense } from 'react'; // Components are now loaded only when rendered const HeavyComponent = lazy(() => import('./HeavyComponent')); const AnotherHeavyComponent = lazy(() => import('./AnotherHeavyComponent')); function App() { return ( <div> <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}> <HeavyComponent /> <AnotherHeavyComponent /> </Suspense> </div> ); }
Combine with React Router for even better performance:
import React, { lazy, Suspense } from 'react'; import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from 'react-router-dom'; const Home = lazy(() => import('./pages/Home')); const Dashboard = lazy(() => import('./pages/Dashboard')); const Settings = lazy(() => import('./pages/Settings')); function App() { return ( <BrowserRouter> <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading...</div>}> <Routes> <Route path="/" element={<Home />} /> <Route path="/dashboard" element={<Dashboard />} /> <Route path="/settings" element={<Settings />} /> </Routes> </Suspense> </BrowserRouter> ); }
Implement these techniques in your React application today and watch your load times improve dramatically!
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