20 Advanced web service features
- Managing related data in web service results
- Supporting the PATCH method to make selective changes
- Formatting content produced by web services
- Caching the output from web services
- Generating documentation that describes a web service
In this chapter, I describe advanced features that can be used to create RESTful web services. I explain how to deal with related data in Entity Framework Core queries, how to add support for the HTTP PATCH method, how to use content negotiations, and how to use OpenAPI to describe your web services. Table 20.1 puts this chapter in context.
20.1 Preparing for this chapter
20.1.1 Dropping the database
20.1.2 Running the example application
20.2 Dealing with related data
20.2.1 Breaking circular references in related data
20.3 Supporting the HTTP PATCH method
20.3.1 Understanding JSON Patch
20.3.2 Installing and configuring the JSON Patch package
20.3.3 Defining the action method
20.4 Understanding content formatting
20.4.1 Understanding the default content policy
20.4.2 Understanding content negotiation
20.4.3 Specifying an action result format
20.4.4 Requesting a format in the URL
20.4.5 Restricting the formats received by an action method
20.4.6 Caching output
20.5 Documenting and exploring web services
20.5.1 Resolving action conflicts
20.5.2 Installing and configuring the Swashbuckle package
20.5.3 Fine-Tuning the API description
Summary