[asp.net] ASP.NET page life cycle explanation

I was asked to explain the ASP.NET page life cycle in an interview some time back. I did explain it to him, but he was not satisfied with my answer. Could someone explain the life cycle to me please?

There are 10 events in ASP.NET page life cycle, and the sequence is:

1. Init
2. Load view state
3. Post back data
4. Load
5. Validate
6. Events
7. Pre-render
8. Save view state
9. Render
10. Unload

Below is a pictorial view of ASP.NET Page life cycle with what kind of code is expected in that event. I suggest you read this article I wrote on the ASP.NET Page life cycle, which explains each of the 10 events in detail and when to use them.

Image source: my own article at https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/uploadfile/shivprasadk/Asp-Net-application-and-page-life-cycle/ from 19 April 2010

Partial Class _Default
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
    Dim str As String

    Protected Sub Page_Disposed(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Disposed

        str += "PAGE DISPOSED" & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_Error(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Error
        str += "PAGE ERROR " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_Init(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Init
        str += "PAGE INIT " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_InitComplete(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.InitComplete
        str += "INIT Complte " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_Load(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        str += "PAGE LOAD " & "<br />"

    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_LoadComplete(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.LoadComplete
        str += "PAGE LOAD Complete " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_PreInit(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.PreInit
        str = ""
        str += "PAGE PRE INIT" & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_PreLoad(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.PreLoad
        str += "PAGE PRE LOAD " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_PreRender(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.PreRender
        str += "PAGE PRE RENDER " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_PreRenderComplete(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.PreRenderComplete
        str += "PAGE PRE RENDER COMPLETE " & "<br />"
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_SaveStateComplete(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.SaveStateComplete
        str += "PAGE SAVE STATE COMPLTE  " & "<br />"
        lbl.Text = str
    End Sub

    Protected Sub Page_Unload(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Unload
        'Response.Write("PAGE UN LOAD\n")
    End Sub
End Class

This acronym might help you to remember the ASP.NET life cycle stages which I wrote about in the below blog post.

R-SIL-VP-RU

1. Request
2. Start
3. Initialization
4. Load
5. Validation
6. Post back handling
7. Rendering
8. Unload

From my blog: Understand ASP.NET Page life cycle and remember stages in easy way
18 May 2014