MVC Html.ActionLink removes empty querystring parameter from URL

Question

I'm using the Html.ActionLink(string linkText, string actionName, object routeValues) overload to send some params to an Action Method..

Sometimes I need to pass an empty parameter value like: ?item1=&item2=value

I'm specifying the param in the anonymous type I create and pass as routeValues, but both null and string.Empty result in a URL that omits the empty item1 param.

new { item1 = null, item2 = "value" } 
new { item1 = string.Empty, item2 = "value" }
new { item1 = "", item2 = "value" }

// all result in:
?item2=value

I can create the URL manually but I want to use the helper method.

Suggestions?

haim770 · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-17 14:24:04Z

5

Create an EmptyParameter class as follows:

public class EmptyParameter
{
    public override string ToString()
    {
        return String.Empty;
    }
}

Then:

@Html.ActionLink("Action",
                 "Controller",
                  new { item1 = new EmptyParameter(), item2 = "value" });

answered Jul 17, 2013 at 14:24

haim770

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5 Comments

JoeBrockhaus Over a year ago

I haven't tried this and I already changed the code to create the link manually, but I'm going to accept this since you seem to know exactly how to fix it and you were lightning fast! :D

haim770 Over a year ago

I did try it and it does seem to generate item1=&item2=value. Thanks.

Christopher King Over a year ago

Since the ToString() implementation for DBNull is defined to return String.Empty you can alternatively use DBNull.Value and avoid the need to define the EmptyParameter class.

T-moty Over a year ago

Why the heck the .Net team removes empty values inside RouteCollection.GetVirtualPathForArea(HttpContext,string)? What's the reason? Anyway thanx, excellent solution! i was losing an entire day behind this.

T-moty Over a year ago

@ChristopherKing better use UrlParameter.Optional since is more related than DBNull.Value and is less confusing

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