Web Api: recommended way to return json string

Question

I\'ve got a couple of services which already receive a json string (not an object) that must be returned to the client. Currently, I\'m creating the HttpResponseMessag

Answer 1

Create custom implementation. The framework is extensible via the IHttpActionResult.

The following creates a custom result and extension method...

public static class JsonStringResultExtension {
   public static CustomJsonStringResult JsonString(this ApiController controller, string jsonContent, HttpStatusCode statusCode = HttpStatusCode.OK) {
        var result = new CustomJsonStringResult(controller.Request, statusCode, jsonContent);
        return result;
    }

    public class CustomJsonStringResult : IHttpActionResult {
        private string json;
        private HttpStatusCode statusCode;
        private HttpRequestMessage request;

        public CustomJsonStringResult(HttpRequestMessage httpRequestMessage, HttpStatusCode statusCode = HttpStatusCode.OK, string json = "") {
            this.request = httpRequestMessage;
            this.json = json;
            this.statusCode = statusCode;
        }

        public Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) {
            return Task.FromResult(Execute());
        }

        private HttpResponseMessage Execute() {
            var response = request.CreateResponse(statusCode);
            response.Content = new StringContent(json, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
            return response;
        }
    }
}

...that can then be applied to ApiController derived classes. Greatly simplifying previous calls to

return this.JsonString(jsonUtilizadores); //defaults to 200 OK

or with desired HTTP status code

return this.JsonString(jsonUtilizadores, HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);