WebAPI to Return XML

Question

I\'m wanting my WEB API method to return an XML object back to the calling application. Currently it\'s just returning the XML as a string object. Is this a no no? If so how

Answer 1

You should simply return your object, and shouldn't be concerned about whether its XML or JSON. It is the client responsibility to request JSON or XML from the web api. For example, If you make a call using Internet explorer then the default format requested will be Json and the Web API will return Json. But if you make the request through google chrome, the default request format is XML and you will get XML back.

If you make a request using Fiddler then you can specify the Accept header to be either Json or XML.

Accept: application/xml

You may wanna see this article: Content Negotiation in ASP.NET MVC4 Web API Beta – Part 1

EDIT: based on your edited question with code:

Simple return list of string, instead of converting it to XML. try it using Fiddler.

public List Get(int tenantID, string dataType, string ActionName)
    {
       List SQLResult = MyWebSite_DataProvidor.DB.spReturnXMLData("SELECT * FROM vwContactListing FOR XML AUTO, ELEMENTS").ToList();
       return SQLResult;
     }

For example if your list is like:

List list = new List();
list.Add("Test1");
list.Add("Test2");
list.Add("Test3");
return list;

and you specify Accept: application/xml the output will be:

  Test1
  Test2
  Test3

and if you specify 'Accept: application/json' in the request then the output will be:

[
  "Test1",
  "Test2",
  "Test3"
]

So let the client request the content type, instead of you sending the customized xml.