CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netbrowser
Rick Minerich
Rick Minerich

Reputation: 3088

What is the best way to launch a web browser with a custom url from a C# application?

It's common knowledge that using System.Diagnostics.Process.Start is the way to launch a url from a C# applicaiton:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("http://www.mywebsite.com");

However, if this url is invalid the application seems to have no way of knowing that the call failed or why. Is there a better way to launch a web browser? If not, what is my best option for url validation?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 728

Answers (3)

Troels Thomsen
Troels Thomsen

Reputation: 11617

Try an approach as below.

try
{
    var url = new Uri("http://www.example.com/");

    Process.Start(url.AbsoluteUri);
}
catch (UriFormatException)
{
    // URL is not parsable
}

This does not ensure that the resource exist, but it does ensure the URL is wellformed. You might also want to check if the scheme is matching http or https.

Upvotes: 7

derigel
derigel

Reputation: 3235

Check the Uri.IsWellFormedUriString static method. It's cheaper than catching exception.

Upvotes: 1

Danimal
Danimal

Reputation: 7710

If you need to verify that the URL exists, the only thing you can do is create a custom request in advance and verify that it works. I'd still use the Process.Start to shell out to the actual page, though.

Upvotes: 2

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