Result resource
An action result is an abstraction representing the outcome or response produced by an API action, including a typed value or HTTP response.
ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e
ActionResult<T> is an ASP.NET Core MVC result type that allows an action method to return either a typed value or an arbitrary HTTP action result.
- How it is used
- Lets a web API action return typed data on success or another HTTP result for an error.
- How deep it goes
- Works through a conditional controller action and response behavior, without examining the result type’s internals.
- Examples
- Uses a fruit lookup returning a string or NotFound(), plus a currency-conversion action tested with supplied input.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via ASP.NET Core MVC to write an API action with typed success and error return paths.
Read how ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e explains result resource →
Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core
ActionResult is an ASP.NET Core action return type that can represent either a typed response value or an HTTP action result.
- How it is used
- Handles successful typed responses and HTTP error results from one ASP.NET Core action.
- How deep it goes
- Explains the generic return-type change and manual validation branches, stopping short of framework internals.
- Examples
- Uses the Domains GET action, invalid pageSize and sortOrder queries, and browser Network-tab status inspection.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via ASP.NET Core MVC to return typed data or structured HTTP errors from one action.
Read how Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core explains result resource →
Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition
An action result is an object representing a response produced by an MVC action method.
- How it is used
- Represents responses produced by MVC action methods, including rendered views, redirects, and authorization prompts.
- How deep it goes
- Defines the response abstraction and reuse role, while deferring detailed result types and usage patterns.
- Examples
- Uses ViewResult, RedirectResult, HttpUnauthorizedResult, and a HomeController action returning a view.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via MVC action methods to encapsulate reusable HTTP responses.
Read how Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition explains result resource →
.NET in Action, Second Edition
ActionResult is an ASP.NET Core result abstraction that represents the outcome of handling a web request, including its response content and HTTP status code.
- How it is used
- Controls response content and status codes when a minimal API needs more than the default successful response.
- How deep it goes
- Demonstrates conditional result selection and several built-in response types without detailing their internal implementations.
- Examples
- Uses ASCII-art content, invalid-font handling, and a JPEG barcode endpoint to demonstrate response choices.
- What you can do after
- Apply built-in Results methods to return content, not-found responses, and files from minimal API endpoints.
Read how .NET in Action, Second Edition explains result resource →
Related concepts
- IActionResultimplements · IActionResult is an ASP.NET Core MVC interface implemented by objects that represent the result of processing an HTTP request.
- ControllerBaseproduced by · ControllerBase is the ASP.NET Core MVC base class providing controller behavior and action-result helpers without view-specific functionality.
- web API action methodused by · A web API action method is a controller method associated with a matched HTTP request that processes it and produces a response.
- resourcekind of · An API resource is a conceptual entity or target exposed through an interface and addressable for access or manipulation.
- ViewResultincludes · ViewResult is an MVC action-result type that represents rendering a view with an optional name and model.
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