ViewData vs ViewBag vs TempData vs Session

Introduction

ViewData and ViewBag are used for the same purpose to transfer data from controller to view. Both life lies only in current request. ViewData is nothing but dictionary of object and it is accessible by string as key. ViewData is property of controller that exposes an instance of the ViewDataDictionary class. ViewBag is very similar to ViewData. ViewBag is a dynamic property (dynamic keyword which is introduced in .net framework 4.0). ViewBag is able to set and get value dynamically and able to add any number of additional fields without converts it to strongly typed. ViewBag is just a wrapper around the ViewData.

ViewData Example

//Controller Code

public ActionResult Index()

{

      List<string> Student = new List<string>();

      Student.Add("Vineet");

      Student.Add("Buddhi");

      Student.Add("Rakesh");

      ViewData["Student"] = Student;

      return View();

}

//page code

<ul>

@foreach (var student in ViewData["Student"] as List<string>)

{

@student

}

</ul>

ViewBag Example

//Controller Code

public ActionResult Index()

{

      List<string> Student = new List<string>();

      Student.Add("Vineet");

      Student.Add("Buddhi");

      Student.Add("Rakesh");

      ViewBag.Student = Student;

      return View();

} 

//page code

<ul>

@foreach (var student in ViewData["Student"] as List<string>)

{

@student

}

</ul>

TempData is a dictionary which is derived from TempDataDictionary class. TempData is stored data just like live session for short time. TempData Keep data for the time of HTTP Request it mean that it hold data between two consecutive requests. TempData help us to transfer data between controllers or between actions. TempData internally use Session variables. Note that TempData is only work during the current and subsequent request. It is generally used to store one time message. With the help of TempData.Keep() method we can keep value in TempData object after request completion.

TempData Example
 

//Controller Code

public ActionResult Index()

{

    List<string> Student = new List<string>();

    Student.Add("Buddhi");

    Student.Add("Vineet");

    Student.Add("Rakesh");

    TempData["Student"] = Student;

    return View();

}

//page code

<ul>

@foreach (var student in ViewData["Student"] as List<string>)

{

@student

}

</ul>

ViewData VS ViewBag VS TempData
 

ViewData	ViewBag	TempData
It is Key-Value Dictionary collection	It is a type object	It is Key-Value Dictionary collection
ViewData is a dictionary object and it is property of ControllerBase class	ViewBag is Dynamic property of ControllerBase class.	TempData is a dictionary object and it is property of controllerBase class.
ViewData is Faster than ViewBag	ViewBag is slower than ViewData	NA
ViewData is introduced in MVC 1.0 and available in MVC 1.0 and above	ViewBag is introduced in MVC 3.0 and available in MVC 3.0 and above	TempData is also introduced in MVC1.0 and available in MVC 1.0 and above.
ViewData  is also work with .net framework 3.5 and above	ViewBag  is only  work with .net framework 4.0 and above	TempData  is also work with .net framework 3.5 and above
Type Conversion code is required while enumerating	In depth, ViewBag is used dynamic, so there is no need to type conversion while enumerating.	Type Conversion code is required while enumerating
It value become null if redirection is occurred.	Same as ViewData	TempData is used to pass data between two consecutive requests.
It lies only during the current request.	Same as ViewData	TempData is only work during the current and subsequent request