What's the best way to load highly re-used data in a .net web application

Let's say I have a list of categories for navigation on a web app. Rather than selecting from the database for every user, should I add a function call in the application_onStart of the global.asax to fetch that data into an array or collection that is re-used over and over. If my data does not change at all - (Edit - very often), would this be the best way?

You can store the list items in the Application object. You are right about the application_onStart(), simply call a method that will read your database and load the data to the Application object.

In Global.asax

public class Global : System.Web.HttpApplication
{
    // The key to use in the rest of the web site to retrieve the list
    public const string ListItemKey = "MyListItemKey";
    // a class to hold your actual values. This can be use with databinding
    public class NameValuePair
    { 
        public string Name{get;set;} 
        public string Value{get;set;}
        public NameValuePair(string Name, string Value)
        {
            this.Name = Name;
            this.Value = Value;
        }
    }

    protected void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        InitializeApplicationVariables();
    }


    protected void InitializeApplicationVariables()
    {
        List<NameValuePair> listItems = new List<NameValuePair>();
        // replace the following code with your data access code and fill in the collection
        listItems.Add( new NameValuePair("Item1", "1"));
        listItems.Add( new NameValuePair("Item2", "2"));
        listItems.Add( new NameValuePair("Item3", "3"));
        // load it in the application object
        Application[ListItemKey] = listItems;
    }
 }

Now you can access your list in the rest of the project. For example, in default.aspx to load the values in a DropDownList:

<asp:DropDownList runat="server" ID="ddList" DataTextField="Name" DataValueField="Value"></asp:DropDownList>

And in the code-behind file:

protected override void OnPreInit(EventArgs e)
{
    ddList.DataSource = Application[Global.ListItemKey];
    ddList.DataBind();
    base.OnPreInit(e);
}