When accessing a form or query string value from code-behind in ASP.NET, what are the pros and cons of using, say:
// short way
string p = Request["param"];
instead of:
// long way
string p = Request.QueryString["param"]; // if it's in the query string or
string p = Request.Form["param"]; // for posted form values
I've thought about this many times, and come up with:
Short way:
Long way:
.
So what other advantages/disadvantages are there to each approach?
The long way is better because:
It makes it easier (when reading the code later) to find where the value is coming from (improving readability)
It's marginally faster (though this usually isn't significant, and only applies to first access)
In ASP.NET (as well as the equivalent concept in PHP), I always use what you are calling the "long form." I do so out of the principle that I want to know exactly from where my input values are coming, so that I am ensuring that they get to my application the way I expect. So, it's for input validation and security that I prefer the longer way. Plus, as you suggest, I think the maintainability is worth a few extra keystrokes.