What is the standard ASP.net data binding syntax?

Question

Microsoft's introduction to data-binding using the `asp:Repeater` control gives the syntax to fetch a value: ``` <%# DataBinder.Eval(Container.DataItem, "orderid") %> ``` This syntax is repeated on other introductions to the ASP.net `Repeater` control: ``` ">... ``` But i remember this syntax being "bad" and "wrong". From the MSDN documentation of `DataBinder.Eval` i see: Note Because this method performs late-bound evaluation, using reflection at run time, it can cause performance to noticeably slow compared to standard ASP.NET data-binding syntax. (emphases added) So that explains why i had a memory of "`Eval` is bad". But what is the "standard ASP.NET data-binding syntax"? Bonus Reading - Data-Binding Expression Syntax

Accepted Answer

I think you can just do a cast to avoid the "late binding" penalty:

```
<%# (((System.Data.DataRowView)Container.DataItem)["URL"]) %>
```

Now let's say you increase performance by x%. Is it worth it to your application? The trade-off (in my opinion) is less readability.

What is the standard ASP.net data binding syntax?

Solution

Problem