Can't POST an array of string to ASP.NET MVC3

Question

I have an MVC3 controller action:

public ActionResult DoStuff(DoStuffModel model)

The DoStuffModel looks like this:

public class DoStuffModel
{
    public long SomeId { get; set; }
    public List<string> Codes { get; set; }
}

In my jQuery I do this:

 var postData = {
     SomeId: 1,
     Codes: ["code1", "code2", "code3"]
 };

$.post(url, postData, function (data) {});

The URL is correct. The postData looks like this when I log it:

The SomeId gets bound correctly, but Codes remains null. What is going on?

Your model expects an array called Codes, but in your dev-tools it shows that in the javascript object the array name is PiCodes. Can you check if that helps? — Mario Mucalo
– Mario Mucalo, Commented Apr 4, 2017 at 9:28
Just a guess, but have you tried public string[] Codes { get; set; } — Carsten Løvbo Andersen
– Carsten Løvbo Andersen, Commented Apr 4, 2017 at 9:29
Bad screenshotting on my part, sorry. The names correspond though. — yesman
– yesman, Commented Apr 4, 2017 at 9:29

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-04 09:59:28Z

1

You need to use the $.ajax() method and set the correct ajax options and stringify your data.

The $.post() method is sending the data as application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8, which means you would need to generate the collection with indexers in order for the DefaultModelBinder to bind it - for example

var postData = { SomeId: 1, 'Codes[0]': 'code1', 'Codes[1]': 'code2', 'Codes[2]': 'code3'};

The code using your current object containing an array would be

$.ajax({
    url: url,
    type: 'post',
    contentType: 'application/json',
    data: JSON.stringify({ model: postData })
    success: function(data) {
        ....
    }
});

edited Apr 4, 2017 at 9:59

answered Apr 4, 2017 at 9:34

user3559349

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7 Comments

yesman Over a year ago

Thanks for the help! However, [0].Codes does not appear to be correct syntax. My Intellisense seems to complain about it at least.

user3559349 Over a year ago

Sorry, forgot the quotes (note you can also use 'Codes[0]' in this case (collection of simple objects)

Darin Dimitrov Over a year ago

Since you are sending JSON you don't need to be using Codes[0]. The OPs original postData was correct, he was just missing the application/json header.

user3559349 Over a year ago

@DarinDimitrov, I know - I was explaining how the data would need to be generated without setting the contentType option :)

yesman Over a year ago

Thanks. However, neither of your options seems to work at all. Not even SomeId gets bound this way.

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