How can I show real-time progress updates while processing a file in ASP.NET MVC?

I’m building a web-based tool where users upload or process a media file, and I want to show the processing status in real time instead of making the user refresh the page. What would be a good approach for implementing this in ASP.NET MVC?

Answer:

A good approach is to use SignalR for real-time communication between the server and the browser.

The backend can start the file-processing task and use SignalR to send progress updates to the connected client. The frontend can then update a progress bar or status message without refreshing the page.

For example, the workflow could be:

User starts the file-processing task.
ASP.NET MVC sends the task to the backend.
The server processes the file and tracks its progress.
SignalR sends progress updates to the browser.
The UI displays messages such as “Processing,” “Almost finished,” and “Completed.”

This approach is useful for applications where a backend task may take some time and the user needs immediate feedback.