CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#asp.net-mvc-3search
Pankaj Upadhyay
Pankaj Upadhyay

Reputation: 13574

Performing search in Asp.net MVC

I am new to Asp.net MVC and have no idea as to how can i perform the search. Here's my requirement, please tell me how will you handle this :-

I need to have textbox where user can enter a search query or string. The user then clicks on a button or presses enter to submit it. The string needs to matched with a table's property name.

NOTE:- Querying the data and fetching the result isn't the main point here. All I need to know is how will you take the user input and pass it to a controller action or whatever for further processing. Just tell me how will you read the user input and where will you send it to search.

Upvotes: 10

Views: 35110

Answers (3)

Matteo Mosca
Matteo Mosca

Reputation: 7448

Asp.Net MVC uses standard HTTP verbs. For the html part, it's a normal html form that points to an url. Server side, that url will be routed to a controller/action which will handle the input and do what is needed.

Let's have a sample. You want to make a search form. First of all, it's a best practice to have search forms use the HTTP GET method instead of POST, so the search results can be bookmarked, linked, indexed, etc. I won't be using Html.BeginForm helper method to make things more clear.

<form method="get" action="@Url.Action("MyAction", "MyController")">
<label for="search">Search</label>
<input type="text" name="search" id="search" />
<button type="submit">Perform search</button>
</form>

That's all the html you need. Now you'll have a controller called "MyController" and the method will be something like this:

[HttpGet]
public ActionResult MyAction(string search)
{
//do whatever you need with the parameter, 
//like using it as parameter in Linq to Entities or Linq to Sql, etc. 
//Suppose your search result will be put in variable "result".
ViewData.Model = result;
return View();
}

Now the view called "MyAction" will be rendered, and the Model of that view will be your "result". Then you'll display it as you wish.

Upvotes: 12

Darin Dimitrov
Darin Dimitrov

Reputation: 1038710

As always in an ASP.NET MVC application you start by defining a view model which will express the structure and requirements of your view. So far you have talked about a form containing a search input:

public class SearchViewModel
{
    [DisplayName("search query *")]
    [Required]
    public string Query { get; set; }
}

then you write a controller:

public class HomeController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return View(new SearchViewModel());
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Index(SearchViewModel model)
    {
        if (!ModelState.IsValid)
        {
            // There was a validation error => redisplay the view so 
            // that the user can fix it
            return View(model);
        }

        // At this stage we know that the model is valid. The model.Query
        // property will contain whatever value the user entered in the input
        // So here you could search your datastore and return the results

        // You haven't explained under what form you need the results so 
        // depending on that you could add other property to the view model
        // which will store those results and populate it here

        return View(model);
    }
}

and finally a view:

@model SearchViewModel

@using (Html.BeginForm())
{
    @Html.LabelFor(x => x.Query)
    @Html.EditorFor(x => x.Query)
    @Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.Query)
    <button type="submit">Search</button>
}

Upvotes: 8

dknaack
dknaack

Reputation: 60438

This is the best way to do it.

Create a ViewModel

public class SearchViewModel
{
    public string Query { get; set; }
}

Create a Controller

    public class SearchController : Controller
    {
        [HttpPost]
        public ActionResult Search(SearchViewModel model)
        {
            // perform search based on model.Query

            // return a View with your Data.
        }
    }

Create the View

// in your view
@using (Html.BeginForm("Search", "SearchController"))
{
    @Html.TextBox("Query")
    <input type="submit" value="search" />
}

hope this helps

Upvotes: 3

Related Questions