c# - How do I accept an array as an ASP.NET MVC controller action parameter?

Question

I have an ASP.net MVC controller called Designs that has an action with the following signature:

public ActionResult Multiple(int[] ids)

However, when I try to navigate to this action using the url:

http://localhost:54119/Designs/Multiple?ids=24041,24117

The ids parameter is always null. Is there any way to get MVC to convert the ?ids= URL query parameter into an array for the action? I've seen talk of using an action filter but as far as I can tell that will only work for POSTs where the array is passed in the request data rather than in the URL itself.

Answer 1

The default model binder expects this url:

http://localhost:54119/Designs/Multiple?ids=24041&ids=24117

in order to successfully bind to:

public ActionResult Multiple(int[] ids)
{
    ...
}

And if you want this to work with comma separated values you could write a custom model binder:

public class IntArrayModelBinder : DefaultModelBinder
{
    public override object BindModel(ControllerContext controllerContext, ModelBindingContext bindingContext)
    {
        var value = bindingContext.ValueProvider.GetValue(bindingContext.ModelName);
        if (value == null || string.IsNullOrEmpty(value.AttemptedValue))
        {
            return null;
        }

        return value
            .AttemptedValue
            .Split(',')
            .Select(int.Parse)
            .ToArray();
    }
}

and then you could apply this model binder to a particular action argument:

public ActionResult Multiple([ModelBinder(typeof(IntArrayModelBinder))] int[] ids)
{
    ...
}

or apply it globally to all integer array parameters in your Application_Start in Global.asax:

ModelBinders.Binders.Add(typeof(int[]), new IntArrayModelBinder());

and now your controller action might look like this:

public ActionResult Multiple(int[] ids)
{
    ...
}