The Html helper stuff (can't call it a class since it is mostly extension methods... ) seems to have two modes. In the first mode, you use it like this:

 <%= Html.ReturnSomething(stuff) %>

In the other mode, you use it like this:

 <% Html.WriteSomething(stuff) %>

or like this:

<% using (Html.StartSomething(stuff)) %>morestuff<% } %>

This has been a source of confusion to myself, and it appears to be confusing to others as well.

My gut feeling is that the two types of usage should be in two different categories using two different "keywords". I'm not great with keywords, but maybe the methods that return a string should be invoked via "Tag", i.e. Tag.SubmitButton(). Or perhaps the methods that directly write something should change to use a different keyword like "Render", i.e. Render.Form(...).

Well, "WriteSomething" always begins with Render, and "StartSomething" is just Form at the moment (I believe).

But yeah, I'm all for making that distinction clearer.

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

This is in fact something that we've struggled with before. We've been looking for ways to help reduce the confusion of which syntax to use with which helpers. I'll bring it up with the rest of the team to see if we can clean this up.

Thanks,

Eilon