What is _ViewStart.cshtml?
PICTURE THIS: HOW TO EXPLAIN IT
IdeaViews
HowWhat happens inside
Why they askShows real use
Simple meaning
It runs before each view and usually sets the Layout.
WHY — Views instead of guessing?
Why interviewers care about Views:
Views questions separate people
who only read docs from people who shipped.
Keep it short, concrete,
and tied to .NET MVC work.
Stay structured
Name the idea, why it exists, then one short example.
Close cleanly
End with when you use it and one common pitfall.
STEPS — What happens step by step?
Before you speak the answer, walk the interviewer through these steps:
- 1It runs before each
view and usually sets the Layout.
- 2Why it exists
It keeps layout assignment DRY.
- 3Feature folders can override
with their own _ViewStart.
- 4Give an example
One tiny concrete case you can say aloud.
- 5Common mistake
What juniors usually get wrong.
- 6Close
When you pick this over the alternative.
EXAMPLE — See it in action
Here's a short line you can speak, broken into clear beats:
Say this line
“It keeps layout assignment DRY.”
Break into beats
ItkeepslayoutassignmentDRY
Speaking order
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Note: Adapt this scaffold to your own project — keep it under 60–90 seconds.
Key takeaway
It runs before each view and usually sets the Layout. It keeps layout assignment DRY.