Protocol Buffers, also known as protobuf, are a method for serializing structured data in a compact, efficient, and language-agnostic way. Its primary purpose is efficient data serialization and deserialization, making it suitable for use cases like network communication, data storage, and data interchange between different systems and languages. Protocol Buffers are not specifically designed for data compression or encryption but rather for defining a schema and serializing data in a way that allows for efficient storage and transmission.

To specify a specific version of a dependency using Go Modules, you use the 'require' directive in the go.mod file. You list the module path and the desired version, ensuring that the version adheres to semantic versioning (SemVer). This allows Go Modules to fetch the correct version of the dependency when you build your project. This precise versioning is essential for ensuring consistency and predictability in your project's dependencies.

To create a textbox for user input in a Razor view, you would use the asp-textbox tag helper. This helper generates the necessary HTML input element, and you can specify its attributes and bindings using the asp-for attribute. It's a handy tool for creating forms in ASP.NET Core views.

The most probable cause of a 404 error when accessing an action method is incorrect route configuration. Ensure that the route for the "Details" action method in the "Products" controller is properly configured to accept the required parameters, such as the product ID (e.g., "{controller}/{action}/{id}").

The Attach method in Entity Framework Core is primarily used for tracking changes made to an entity. When you attach an entity, EF Core starts tracking it, and any changes made to that entity will be detected and persisted when you call SaveChanges. This is especially useful when you want to work with entities that have been detached from the context.

ASP.NET Core achieves modularity through the extensive use of NuGet packages. This means that various components and libraries are organized as packages, making it easy to update, replace, or extend specific parts of the framework without affecting the entire application. This is a significant departure from the monolithic architecture of its predecessor, which had tightly coupled components and fewer modular options.

ASP.NET Core is a successor to the ASP.NET MVC framework. While ASP.NET Web Forms and Classic ASP were earlier web development technologies from Microsoft, ASP.NET Core represents a more modern and flexible approach to web development.

The primary purpose of the Register action in an ASP.NET Core Identity controller is to handle user registration. It processes user-provided information, such as username, password, and email, and creates a new user account in the system, allowing them to log in subsequently.

Razor Tag Helpers in ASP.NET Core simplify server-side code in Razor views by providing a more natural way to work with HTML elements and attributes. They make it easier to integrate server-side logic into your views while maintaining clean and readable code.

The "Web Application" template is the suitable choice when you need both Razor-based web pages for user interfaces and API controllers for handling data interactions. This template provides a balanced setup for creating web applications that combine server-rendered Razor pages with APIs for data exchange.

To control access to specific endpoints in an ASP.NET Core Web API, you'd use Authorization Filters. You can apply policies to controllers or actions, and these filters can determine whether a user is authorized to access the resource based on their identity and role. To make some endpoints public, you can use AllowAnonymous attribute or configure policies accordingly.

Continuous Delivery is a software development practice where changes are automatically tested and prepared for release to production. It includes automated testing, deployment, and delivery of code changes.