Large viewstate in HTML source

Question

This is 10KB in my HTML source:

<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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" />

This represents ~50% of the entire size of the page.

Why does it do this, why so long? Can I do anything about it? It's bad for mobile users.

Answer 1

What is this view state anyway and how to mitigate its size

In Asp.net WebForms every control saves its state because HTTP protocol is stateless and Asp.net WebForms pages bypass that by saving every control's state in this Base 64 encoded string. This is the only way for Asp.net framework to know whether some control's value has changed or not. But... This automatically means that static controls that don't get POSTed back to server (like label for instance) don't need to save their state. You can always set their EnableViewState="false".

Unfortunately this can't be set without any other code changes on other controls, that do get POSTed back (every server-side control that renders some sort of an input in HTML). This basically means that setting EnableViewState="false" on page level (within @Page directive) will have consequences that are seen as controls loosing their values, controls not firing certain events etc.

So, the more server-side controls you have the larger it will get (without turning it off on certain controls).

But I wouldn't worry if its size is 10k. That will go back and forth rather fast and painless. You will have problems when it gets much larger. I once worked on a project and we had an issue with a certain page (done by less experienced developer) where view state grew over 1MB. Imagine that. What a slowdown!

How to turn it off completely on page level

When you turn view state off on page level you have to be aware that certain controls that were loaded (or better said data bound) in on of your page's events, will have to be reloaded each time your page gets POSTed back at server. Otherwise they will show up as empty when your page gets back to the client.

Answer 2

Your server controls are filling the ViewState with data they will need on postback. If your page does not postback you can just disable the ViewState for the page.

To disable ViewState for the page you can just add EnableViewState="false" to the @Page directive. Please be aware you should only use this as a solution if you are 100% sure the page does not postback.

You also might want to check this MSDN article to get a better idea of what the ViewState does.

Answer 3

Disable viewstate for static controls, like a gridview. Check out this question for more info:

Answer 4

If you are concerned about the viewstate on the client side, then think about storing it on the server side. Perhaps in a session variable. Take a look at this article as there is statistical comparison given. Download the solution and check out how to store it on the server side. An Analysis of Keeping ViewState out of the Page