MVC5 Retrieve data with ajax, return json object instead of view

Question

I have a simple function that searches for item I want in my database and retrieves it in my controller.

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(string searchString)
{
    var user = from m in db.Users select m;

    if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(searchString))
    {
        user = user.Where(s => s.UserName.Contains(searchString));
    }

    return View(user);
}

And then in my Javascript I send a value to search:

$('#test').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();

    var user = "John";

    $.ajax({
        url: "@Url.Action("Index", "Users")",
        data { "searchString": user },
        type: "post",
        success: function (saveResult) {
            console.log(saveResult);
        },
        error: function(xhr, ajaxOptions, thrownError) {
            console.log(xhr, ajaxOptions, thrownError);
        }
    })
})

However of course all this does it return my view inside the console window which is something like:

But I would like to return a json object I can use.

Derek Van Cuyk · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-06 14:13:36Z

2

just use the Json Action method.

return Json(user);

Edit:

As a side note, I would also set my return Type to be JsonResult for clarity

answered Oct 6, 2015 at 14:13

Derek Van Cuyk

9537 silver badges23 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Mr.Smithyyy Over a year ago

Perfect! Is there a way to change the name of the json object that comes back? It came back as Array[1].

Derek Van Cuyk Over a year ago

I'm assuming Array[1] is the content displayed from the console.log(saveResult) call. If so, that's really just the description of what is stored in the saveResult. Your code is returning an IEnumerable<User> which is serialized to be an Array of objects in JS. Does that make sense?

Mr.Smithyyy Over a year ago

Yeah I get it now, either way it saved me so thank you.

Casey ScriptFu Pharr · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-06 14:14:15Z

1

You just return as JsonResult such as below:

 public ActionResult SomeActionMethod() {
  return Json(new {foo="bar", baz="Blech"});
}

answered Oct 6, 2015 at 14:14

Casey ScriptFu Pharr

1,6801 gold badge17 silver badges40 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

MVC5 Retrieve data with ajax, return json object instead of view

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

3 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related