Question

I am trying to implement search functionality in Asp.net MVC Razor. What i am finding strange is the retrieval of value in search texbox (though i want this, but will like to know whats happening under the hood).

Following is the HTML code :-

                @using (Html.BeginForm("Search", "Home", FormMethod.Get))
                {
                    @Html.TextBox("query")
                    <input type="submit" value="Submit" />
                }

Here is the controller code :-

    public ActionResult Search(string query, int? page)
    {
        int pageIndex = page ?? 1;
        ViewBag.query = query;
        PagedList.IPagedList<Product> PagedProducts = dbStore.Products.Where(p => p.Name.Contains(query)).ToList().ToPagedList(pageIndex, PageSize);
        return View(PagedProducts);
    }

NOTE:- The above HTML code resides on a shared _Layout.cshtml i.e. masterpage file

Answer 1

The MSDN article on ModelState is brief, to say the least, but it’s ModelState that is responsible for this.

Once @Html.BeginForm() is processed, the controls are populated by the values from ModelState of the current model, if it’s applicable.

You can override this behavior (and force clear the textboxes) by calling ModelState.Clear() in your action method.