How to use System.Net.HttpClient to post a complex type?

Question

I have a custom complex type that I want to work with using Web API.

public class Widget
{
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set;         


        

Answer 1

If you want the types of convenience methods mentioned in other answers but need portability (or even if you don't), you might want to check out Flurl [disclosure: I'm the author]. It (thinly) wraps HttpClient and Json.NET and adds some fluent sugar and other goodies, including some baked-in testing helpers.

Post as JSON:

var resp = await "http://localhost:44268/api/test".PostJsonAsync(widget);

or URL-encoded:

var resp = await "http://localhost:44268/api/test".PostUrlEncodedAsync(widget);

Both examples above return an HttpResponseMessage, but Flurl includes extension methods for returning other things if you just want to cut to the chase:

T poco = await url.PostJsonAsync(data).ReceiveJson();
dynamic d = await url.PostUrlEncodedAsync(data).ReceiveJson();
string s = await url.PostUrlEncodedAsync(data).ReceiveString();

Flurl is available on NuGet:

PM> Install-Package Flurl.Http