Difference between axd and ashx handlers

Question

What is the Difference betweeen axd and ashx handlers.

Answer 1

The primary difference is axd handlers are used to download resources embedded in an assembly. so it is mostly used by control developers. On the other hand, ashx are generic handlers that process request. It is used mostly by asp.net developers.

The axd handler comes with asp.net 2.0.

See this entry and this for more information.

Answer 2

In general, the ASP.NET uses .axd extension for Web Resources and usesAssemblyResourceLoaderto handle it. But .ashx files that called Generic Handler is useful when you want to create an HttpHandler.

Answer 3

Technically, they're identical, they're both meant for HTTP handlers, i.e. code that implements IHttpHandler. But axd are implemented by ASP.NET itself and ashx are for you.

It is a convention, you could write an axd handler.