Question

I’ve create WebAPI in .net (my first). Using this api to get object from db, query db etc is easy for me. Nothing new

But I’m wondering how to save an object using this webapi ?

I have a clinet application (tablet, phone, PC) that communicates with my webapi. From my application there is an possibility to save a user news. Now I need to save it in db. I use Azure SQL. Now how can I pass this object to API so I can save it ?

For my application I use C#/XAML
For my WebAPI I use .NET

I’m tring with this code:

HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient();
        String u = this.apiUrl + "sd/Localization/insert";
        Uri uri = new Uri(u);
        HttpRequestMessage httpRequestMessage = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Post, uri);

But I don’t know how to send object ? Should I serialize it ? If yes how to send it via post.

// UPDATE

I’ve constructed this

        HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient();
        String u = this.apiUrl + "sd/Localization/insert";
        Uri uri = new Uri(u);
        HttpRequestMessage httpRequestMessage = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Post, uri);
        httpRequestMessage.Content = new StringContent("{'Name':'Foo', 'Surname':'Bar'}");
        await httpClient.PostAsync(uri, httpRequestMessage.Content);

But in my API the variable is null

This is code from my api

    // POST sd/Localization/insert
    public void Post(string test)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(test);
    }

The “test” variable is null.
What am I doing wrong ?

// UPDATE 2

        using (HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient())
        {
            String u = this.apiUrl + "sd/Localization/insert";
            Uri uri = new Uri(u);
            HttpRequestMessage request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Post, uri)
            {
                Method = HttpMethod.Post,
                Content = new StringContent("my own test string")
            };

            await httpClient.PostAsync(uri, request.Content);
        }

Routing config

public class RouteConfig
{
    public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes)
    {
        routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");

        routes.MapHttpRoute(
            name: "DefaultApi",
            routeTemplate: "sd/{controller}/{id}",
            defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }
        );

        routes.MapRoute(
            name: "Default",
            url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
            defaults: new { controller = "Home", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
        );
    }
}

after all your answers I’ve created this but still I get null on param in my api. Where is the mistake ?

Answer 1

I think I found the solution thats why I’m posting this as answer not comment so any later discussion could be grouped.

If I send request like this

using(HttpClient client = new HttpClient()) {
    await client.PostAsync(uri, new StringContent("my own string");
}

Than I can get it in my webapi from

await Request.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();

IMO this is not perfect solution but at least I’m on trace. I see that params from function definitione I can get only if they are in URL even when I send a POST request.

Probably this solution also will work (i didn’t check it yet) when I use more complex objects then String.

ANy thoughts from someone. Do you think that this is good solution ?