Question

Context

I’m in a controller.

I use the namespace System.Web :

using System.Web;

When I call HttpContext.Current, VS alerts me that Current isn’t defined in HttpContextBase :

HttpContext.Current.Session["currentUser"];

If I indicate System.Web before HttpContext.Current, it works :

System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Session["currentUser"];

Question

Why should I indicate System.Web before HttpContext.Current?

Answer 1

This is because you are in the context of a controller. A controller has a property called HttpContext of the type HttpContextBase. The instance of this property is a wrapper around the current HttpContext, this means you don’t have to call HttpContext.Current as this already is available in the controller using the property.

You could do it like this instead (as long as you are in a controller):

HttpContext.Session["currentUser"];