2

When looking at the source code of a page generated by .ASP (to which I'm a noob,) I sometimes see source referenced through WebResource.axd?d= followed by a really long and unreadable string of letters and numbers. I'll take a guess and say it's a pointer to a script (based on the script tag I see) in a library perhaps? 

<script src="/Portal/WebResource.axd?d=amy4Qb3YKPApQh4cMI21MoSwRmquuliNIlSx7bF7geaDZ56xwuLIPLkQdH_fNIrpB_hHiKLdv041_WJ1yWe27HSI4a5Spexg3Tg9fHZd33Q1&amp;t=634666000000418502" type="text/javascript"></script>

Am I close? HOW is this string generated? Is it created automatically by the system? For example, as the developer, if I typed <script src="/folder/myscript.js"> does WebResource convert it on the server side into this long string and return it this way, for security maybe?

Garett
  • 16,632
  • 5
  • 55
  • 63
user1906260
  • 21
  • 2

1 Answers1

2

The WebResource.axd is actually an HTTP Handler used to load embedded resources from assemblies. It is the AssemblyResourceLoader handler, and is defined in the Config\web.config file of the framework version you are using. Here's the definition: 

<add path="WebResource.axd" verb="GET" type="System.Web.Handlers.AssemblyResourceLoader" validate="True" />

See the article Just Where Is WebResource.axd? for more information. A snippet from the article is below.

The answer is WebResource.axd. WebResource.axd is an HTTP Handler that is part of the .NET Framework that does one thing and one thing only – it is tasked with getting an embedded resource out of a DLL and returning its content. What DLL to go to and what embedded resource to take are specified through the querystring. For instance, a request to www.yoursite.com/WebResource.axd?d=EqSMS…&t=63421… might return a particular snippet of JavaScript embedded in a particular assembly. The d querystring parameter contains encrypted information that specifies the assembly and resource to return; the t querystring parameter is a timestamp and is used to only allow requests to that resource using that URL for a certain window of time.

Garett
  • 16,632
  • 5
  • 55
  • 63
  • Okay, so if I understand from the links you provided (thank you,) then I AM CLOSE in my understanding. I think I need to create a test .ASP project in VS 2010, with a script or two, and give this a spin. As I mentioned, I'm a noob to .ASP and not sure where to put my Javascripts that WebResource.axd will use. I think I need to study these links a bit more... – user1906260 Dec 15 '12 at 15:10