From time to time I need to find out if the code that is currently executing runs in a Hosted Environment (like ASP.NET application) or not (like Windows Forms application). Mostly those kind of knowledge might be needed in reusable assemblies which deal with file access. For ASP.NET application you almost always need to call Server.MapPath method (or one of the equivalents). For Windows Forms Application you either do nothing or call something like Application.StartupPath.

There are many ways to tell if code is hosted or not. Usually I see code similar to the following:

if (HttpContext.Current == null)

This code however requires a reference to a System.Web.dll which may not be something you take lightly . So I thought: lets see how They do it - that is how Microsoft does it.

It appears that they use a System.Web.Hosting.HostingEnvironment.IsHosted property to make this check inside System.Web.dll. Still this is a System.Web.dll that you have to reference to make the check. I have been unable to find any alternative that does not require this reference, but hey! I'm a web developer mainly and I have nothing against referencing System.Web.dll

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