Directives for ASP.NET Web Pages

Directives specify settings that are used by the page and user-control compilers when the compilers process ASP.NET Web Forms pages (.aspx files) and user control (.ascx) files.

ASP.NET treats any directive block (<%@ %>) that does not contain an explicit directive name as an @ Page directive (for a page) or as an @ Control directive (for a user control).

For syntax information and descriptions of the attributes that are available for each directive, use the links that are listed in the following table.

Directive	Description
@ Assembly	Links an assembly to the current page or user control declaratively.
@ Control	Defines control-specific attributes used by the ASP.NET page parser and compiler and can be included only in .ascx files (user controls).
@ Implements	Indicates that a page or user control implements a specified .NET Framework interface declaratively.
@ Import	Imports a namespace into a page or user control explicitly.
@ Master	Identifies a page as a master page and defines attributes used by the ASP.NET page parser and compiler and can be included only in .master files.
@ MasterType	Defines the class or virtual path used to type the Master property of a page.
@ OutputCache	Controls the output caching policies of a page or user control declaratively.
@ Page	Defines page-specific attributes used by the ASP.NET page parser and compiler and can be included only in .aspx files.
@ PreviousPageType	Creates a strongly typed reference to the source page from the target of a cross-page posting.
@ Reference	Links a page, user control, or COM control to the current page or user control declaratively.
@ Register	Associates aliases with namespaces and classes, which allow user controls and custom server controls to be rendered when included in a requested page or user control.

See Also

Concepts

ASP.NET Web Page Syntax Overview

Reference

Application Directives