http Handlers vs. Modules

Modules are units of code that have registered for one or more pipeline events. They perform authentication, authorization, logging, etc. There is one task that is reserved for a special module, known as a handler. The handler’s unique job is to retrieve the resource that is requested in the URL. All resources served by IIS are mapped to a handler in configuration. If the configuration mapping does not exist, requests for the resource will receive a 404 HTTP status. In addition to the configuration mapping, which takes place before the pipeline begins, the handler mapping can be changed during request execution in the MAP_REQUEST_HANDLER event. This allows scenarios such as URL rewriting to work. Handlers are notified, or executed, in the EXECUTE_REQUEST_HANDLER step. (Note that only the mapped handler is notified, as you would expect.)