296

I'm building one RESTful API using ASP.NET Core MVC and I want to use querystring parameters to specify filtering and paging on a resource that returns a collection.

In that case, I need to read the values passed in the querystring to filter and select the results to return.

I've already found out that inside the controller Get action accessing HttpContext.Request.Query returns one IQueryCollection.

The problem is that I don't know how it is used to retrieve the values. In truth, I thought the way to do was by using, for example

string page = HttpContext.Request.Query["page"] 

The problem is that HttpContext.Request.Query["page"] doesn't return a string, but a StringValues.

Anyway, how does one use the IQueryCollection to actually read the querystring values?

0

    15 Answers 15

    261

    You can use [FromQuery] to bind a particular model to the querystring:

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/mvc/models/model-binding

    e.g.

    [HttpGet()] public IActionResult Get([FromQuery(Name = "page")] string page) {...} 
    3
    • 15
      I think the [FromQuery] attrib can also be ommited as the .net binding will check all the form inputs and url querystring params by default, except that you have some reason to limit its source.CommentedAug 29, 2018 at 10:42
    • 42
      (Name = "page") is unnecessary - it will bind to the variable if named the same
      – a3uge
      CommentedSep 4, 2018 at 13:38
    • 3
      This is important if the querystring parameter name is structured. For example 'object.propname'CommentedMay 4, 2020 at 5:56
    182

    You could use the ToString method on IQueryCollection which will return the desired value if a single page parameter is specified:

    string page = HttpContext.Request.Query["page"].ToString(); 

    if there are multiple values like ?page=1&page=2 then the result of the ToString call will be 1,2

    But as @mike-g suggested in his answer you would better use model binding and not directly accessing the HttpContext.Request.Query object.

    5
    76

    ASP.NET Core will automatically bind form values, route values and query strings by name. This means you can simply do this:

    [HttpGet()] public IActionResult Get(int page) { ... } 

    MVC will try to bind request data to the action parameters by name ... below is a list of the data sources in the order that model binding looks through them

    1. Form values: These are form values that go in the HTTP request using the POST method. (including jQuery POST requests).

    2. Route values: The set of route values provided by Routing

    3. Query strings: The query string part of the URI.

    Source: Model Binding in ASP.NET Core


    FYI, you can also combine the automatic and explicit approaches:

    [HttpGet()] public IActionResult Get(int page , [FromQuery(Name = "page-size")] int pageSize) { ... } 
    1
    • 4
      While not the answer to the op's question, this is a very useful answer to those who came here for a similar reason.
      – Mmm
      CommentedAug 4, 2021 at 22:23
    49

    Here is a code sample I've used (with a .NET Core view):

    @{ Microsoft.Extensions.Primitives.StringValues queryVal; if (Context.Request.Query.TryGetValue("yourKey", out queryVal) && queryVal.FirstOrDefault() == "yourValue") { } } 
    1
    • 21
      Upvote for including the FULL object name (or the correct using statement). Drives me nuts when people put just the objectname with no fully qualfied or at least a using statement. Thanks.CommentedMar 9, 2020 at 14:27
    37

    You can just create an object like this:

    public class SomeQuery { public string SomeParameter { get; set; } public int? SomeParameter2 { get; set; } } 

    And then in controller just make something like that:

    [HttpGet] public IActionResult FindSomething([FromQuery] SomeQuery query) { // Your implementation goes here.. } 

    Even better, you can create API model from:

    [HttpGet] public IActionResult GetSomething([FromRoute] int someId, [FromQuery] SomeQuery query) 

    to:

    [HttpGet] public IActionResult GetSomething(ApiModel model) public class ApiModel { [FromRoute] public int SomeId { get; set; } [FromQuery] public string SomeParameter { get; set; } [FromQuery] public int? SomeParameter2 { get; set; } } 
    2
    • What’s a URL that this would apply to? I’m new to this so I can’t “backwards engineer” to the URL. Would it be something like example.com/somequery/… ?
      – Christian
      CommentedAug 11, 2019 at 14:59
    • 1
      @Christian if you don't change any convention, it would be example.com/[controller]/[action]/{someid:int}?someparameter=1&someparameter2=2
      – LxL
      CommentedAug 14, 2019 at 18:16
    25

    StringValues is an array of strings. You can get your string value by providing an index, e.g. HttpContext.Request.Query["page"][0].

    2
    • 3
      Thank you; this was the only response that actually answered the question. (In my case, I can't use binding because I have a more complex logic like "first try the query string, if that's missing try the session and so on".)CommentedDec 23, 2018 at 17:56
    • Perfect answer after searching evenrywhereCommentedOct 31, 2022 at 13:53
    13

    in .net core if you want to access querystring in our view use it like

    @Context.Request.Query["yourKey"] 

    if we are in location where @Context is not avilable we can inject it like

    @inject Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextAccessor HttpContextAccessor @if (HttpContextAccessor.HttpContext.Request.Query.Keys.Contains("yourKey")) { <text>do something </text> } 

    also for cookies

    HttpContextAccessor.HttpContext.Request.Cookies["DeniedActions"] 
    2
    • 2
      No need for all that code. Just use @Context.Request.Query["yourKey"]CommentedJan 14, 2019 at 17:56
    • Yes @ShadiNamrouti you are right in view where \@Context is avilable we can use it like \@Context.Request.Query["yourKey"] but if we are in controller we need to inject the HttpContextAccessor.HttpContext.CommentedJun 30, 2019 at 10:23
    12

    IQueryCollection has a TryGetValue() on it that returns a value with the given key. So, if you had a query parameter called someInt, you could use it like so:

    var queryString = httpContext.Request.Query; StringValues someInt; queryString.TryGetValue("someInt", out someInt); var daRealInt = int.Parse(someInt); 

    Notice that unless you have multiple parameters of the same name, the StringValues type is not an issue.

    2
    • To add to this answer, if you call StringValues.ToString() you can cast it directly to a string if that's what you need.
      – eltiare
      CommentedFeb 19, 2018 at 19:02
    • Future readers: fully qualified name "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IQueryCollection queryString = this.Request.Query;" Mine was in "Assembly Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.Features, Version=3.1.0.0," and "Microsoft.Extensions.Primitives.StringValues" (mine was in "Assembly Microsoft.Extensions.Primitives, Version=3.1.2.0,")CommentedMar 9, 2020 at 14:28
    8

    Maybe it helps. For get query string parameter in view

    View:

    @inject Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextAccessor HttpContextAccessor @{ Context.Request.Query["uid"]} 

    Startup.cs ConfigureServices :

    services.TryAddSingleton<IHttpContextAccessor, HttpContextAccessor>(); 
      3

      I have a better solution for this problem,

      • request is a member of abstract class ControllerBase
      • GetSearchParams() is an extension method created in bellow helper class.

      var searchparams = await Request.GetSearchParams();

      I have created a static class with few extension methods

      public static class HttpRequestExtension { public static async Task<SearchParams> GetSearchParams(this HttpRequest request) { var parameters = await request.TupledParameters(); try { for (var i = 0; i < parameters.Count; i++) { if (parameters[i].Item1 == "_count" && parameters[i].Item2 == "0") { parameters[i] = new Tuple<string, string>("_summary", "count"); } } var searchCommand = SearchParams.FromUriParamList(parameters); return searchCommand; } catch (FormatException formatException) { throw new FhirException(formatException.Message, OperationOutcome.IssueType.Invalid, OperationOutcome.IssueSeverity.Fatal, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest); } } public static async Task<List<Tuple<string, string>>> TupledParameters(this HttpRequest request) { var list = new List<Tuple<string, string>>(); var query = request.Query; foreach (var pair in query) { list.Add(new Tuple<string, string>(pair.Key, pair.Value)); } if (!request.HasFormContentType) { return list; } var getContent = await request.ReadFormAsync(); if (getContent == null) { return list; } foreach (var key in getContent.Keys) { if (!getContent.TryGetValue(key, out StringValues values)) { continue; } foreach (var value in values) { list.Add(new Tuple<string, string>(key, value)); } } return list; } } 

      in this way you can easily access all your search parameters. I hope this will help many developers :)

      1
      • Am I missing something - where is FhirException defined, what name space is Task<SearchParams> found in?CommentedMar 29, 2020 at 17:23
      3
      1. Startup.cs add this service services.AddSingleton<IHttpContextAccessor, HttpContextAccessor>();
      2. Your view add inject@inject Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextAccessor HttpContextAccessor
      3. get your value

      Code

      @inject Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextAccessor HttpContextAccessor @{ var id = HttpContextAccessor.HttpContext.Request.RouteValues["id"]; if (id != null) { // parameter exist in your URL } } 
        2

        Some of the comments mention this as well, but asp net core does all this work for you.

        If you have a query string that matches the name it will be available in the controller.

        https://myapi/some-endpoint/123?someQueryString=YayThisWorks

        [HttpPost] [Route("some-endpoint/{someValue}")] public IActionResult SomeEndpointMethod(int someValue, string someQueryString) { Debug.WriteLine(someValue); Debug.WriteLine(someQueryString); return Ok(); } 

        Ouputs:

        123

        YayThisWorks

          1

          In case you want to access QueryString inside of an asp.net core view you can do it like this:

          @inject Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.IHttpContextAccessor HttpContextAccessor @if (Context.Request.Query.Keys.Any()) { <button>--ClearFilters--</button> } 
            0

            we usually can fetch data from routing in 3 way: 1.query string 2.query params 3.hybrid

            I describe query string:

            exp:

            [HttpGet("Home/routing")] public IActionResult privacy(String name) { return ViewModel:name } 

            to pass name as querystring:

            url:port/Home/routing?name=Alex

              0

              To retrieve the values from the IQueryCollection, you can use the indexer with the parameter name.

              string page = HttpContext.Request.Query["page"].ToString(); // Convert to string if necessary 

              You can access individual querystring parameters by their names, and then use .ToString() to convert the StringValues to a string if needed.

              1
              • Thank you for your interest in contributing to the Stack Overflow community. This question already has quite a few answers—including one that has been extensively validated by the community. Are you certain your approach hasn’t been given previously? If so, it would be useful to explain how your approach is different, under what circumstances your approach might be preferred, and/or why you think the previous answers aren’t sufficient. Can you kindly edit your answer to offer an explanation?CommentedSep 16, 2023 at 7:58

              Start asking to get answers

              Find the answer to your question by asking.

              Ask question

              Explore related questions

              See similar questions with these tags.