How to have folder and controller with same name in ASP.NET MVC?

Question

I have a MVC controller called Downloads. http://mysite/Downloads

I also want to put a physical file in a physical folder called http://mysite/Downloads/MyFile.zip.<

Answer 1

Since .NET 3.5, you can route existing files:

public static void RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes) {
    routes.RouteExistingFiles = true;
    routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");
    routes.MapRoute(
       name: "Default",
       url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
       defaults: new { controller = "Home", 
                          action = "Index", 
                          id = UrlParameter.Optional }
    );
}

So suppose we had a folder on the site root called Markets containing an audio.mp3 file:

\Markets
\Markets\audio.mp3

Assuming the existence of a MarketsController, if we made a request for Markets, it'd be routed to Markets/Index.

If we requested /Markets/audio.mp3 we'd get the mp3 file and if we requested Markets/AnythingElse, normal routing would apply.