CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netasp.net-web-apiasp.net-core
SuperJMN
SuperJMN

Reputation: 13992

Web API methods to fill ComboBoxes?

I have a bunch of ComboBoxes in my AngularJS web application that need to be filled. For the front-end, the only data I need is lists of Key, Value pairs.

The problem is for the back-end: in order to fill those lists, I have generated a single Web API endpoint that provides "lists of things".

The route is /api/list/{id}

Depending on the value of {id}, it will return lists of Users, Accounts, Books, Cars... in the same of key, value. For example, for the Id=1, it will return a list of Cars:

{1, "Ford" }, {1, "Toyota"}, {3, "Honda" } ...

That will be perfect for filling the ComboBoxes.

So... I have a BIG SWITCH inside the method in my controller to determine which kind list I should return.

I feel this is really dirty for the back-end, although for the front-end is quite handy. Just calling the same endpoint with a different magic number, I will get a different list.

My question: Is there a better and cleaner approach for this scenario?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 192

Answers (2)

pitaridis
pitaridis

Reputation: 2983

You can use attribute routing to map an id to a specific action.

First action with ID 1:

[Route("/api/list/1")]

Second action with ID 2:

[Route("/api/list/2")]

Upvotes: 0

Shadowed
Shadowed

Reputation: 966

This would usually be split in Controllers per data type ie. UserController, AccountController etc. Then each controller would have its action List. Later, if needed, additional actions would be added to each controller (create/delete/etc.) and everything stays clean. On the frontend you would have change your code just to not send magic number as a parameter but as part of the address:

  • /api/User/List/{id}
  • /api/Account/List/{id}

Upvotes: 1

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