Passing a C# DateTime via the Query String

Question

I have a C# DateTime object. This object includes both the date and time. I need to pass this information to a REST-based service. My question is, how do I format the DateTime, such that I can pass it via the query string, and parse it back into a DateTime on the server-side?

DateTime startDate = GetStartDate();
string url = "http://www.mydomain.com/myservice.svc/[startDateGoesHere]

WebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(url);
request.BeginGetResponse(new AsyncCallback(Service_Completed), request);

Thank you,

Emond · Accepted Answer · 2022-09-17 10:14:24Z

50

Just use ToString() and pass a format e.g.:

startDate.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmss")

And parse it back by using DateTime.ParseExact()

edited Sep 17, 2022 at 10:14

answered May 8, 2011 at 18:45

Emond

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2 Comments

joelc Over a year ago

DateTime.ParseExact was 'exactly' what I needed. No pun intended. Thanks!

H.M. Over a year ago

Consider using startDate.Ticks and new DateTime(ticks) also

Lee Gunn · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-08 19:44:26Z

29

For accuracy and consistency you could use:

string utcDateOut = DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("s", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

DateTime utcDateIn = DateTime.ParseExact(utcDateOut, "s", 
                              CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, 
                              DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal);

This will give you an ISO 8601 compliant format and the use of UTC will ensure that there are no issues with time zones etc.

Only drawback is that it doesn't look as "nice" as a simple "yyyyMMdd".

edited May 8, 2011 at 19:44

answered May 8, 2011 at 19:04

Lee Gunn

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Esteban Araya · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-08 18:47:02Z

7

I'd use yyyyMMdd as the format; doesn't need to be URL encoded and it's easy to read/understand.

On the server side, you'd have to call DateTime.ParseExact(dateString, "yyyyMMdd") to get the date out.

Hope this helps.

answered May 8, 2011 at 18:47

Esteban Araya

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CSharpLogic · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-09 07:04:46Z

4

string s = DateTime.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmssfff")

Note: fff is milliseconds (you may remove the 'fff' if it is not needed)
Then convert it back to DateTime using

DateTime d = DateTime.ParseExact(s, "yyyyMMddHHmmssfff", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)

answered Jan 9, 2020 at 7:04

CSharpLogic

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jimmytricks · Accepted Answer · 2023-12-07 10:50:55Z

2

For those wanting to create a date/time in UTC and then have your web api consume it and be aware of UTC as the DateTime kind you can do:

var startDate = DateTime.UtcNow.AddHours(-24).ToString("u",CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
var endDate = DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("u", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

This will output your date time as:

2023-12-07 10:47:04Z

The Z here will be used to convey the datetime is in UTC format. Then on your consuming API, for example:

[HttpGet]
public async Task<IActionResult> GetSomething(DateTime startDate, DateTime endDate)

It will then parse the DateTime in the correct format with the DateTime kind as UTC.

Hope that helps :)

answered Dec 7, 2023 at 10:50

jimmytricks

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Rahbek · Accepted Answer · 2024-09-30 10:36:44Z

0

I used the format below in my case. I had no control of the controller side and this format turns it correctly into a DateTime object.

Controller endpoint:

public void GetObjectsCreatedFrom(DateTime createdFrom)
{...}

My test code:

DateTime from = DateTime.Now;
string url: "test/sorted?createdFrom={from:yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ}

edited Sep 30, 2024 at 10:36

answered Sep 30, 2024 at 10:31

Rahbek

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