How deeply does Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition cover content negotiation?

Explains Accept-header behavior, formatter registration, serialization constraints, fallback requests, and 406 handling.

Content negotiation

As explained in Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition

Content negotiation is the process of selecting a response representation by comparing client-specified format preferences with the formats an HTTP server can produce.

Content negotiation selects a response representation by comparing the client’s Accept header with formats ASP.NET Core MVC can produce. JSON is the default, so an application configured only for JSON returns JSON even when the client requests XML. section 20.4.2

Configure and verify negotiation in an ASP.NET Core web service:

Return a serializable response object rather than an Entity Framework Core entity whose interface-based navigation properties may defeat XML serialization. section 20.4.2

Requesting XML

A GET request to /api/content/object with Accept: application/xml returns Content-Type: application/xml and an XML ProductBindingTarget containing the product fields. With only JSON configured, the same request returns application/json instead.

How Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition covers it

Cover of Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition

liveBook manning.com

Read Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition on liveBook Get the book at manning.com

Also explained in

liveBook manning.com

The Design of Web APIs, Second EditionHTTP content negotiation is the HTTP mechanism by which a client and server select an appropriate representation format or language for a message.
liveBook manning.com

ASP.NET Core in Action, 3eContent negotiation is the process by which an HTTP client and server select a representation format for a response based on supported media types and request preferences.

Compare how 3 books explain content negotiation →

Related concepts

Accept headeruses · An Accept header is an HTTP request header that specifies the media types a client can process in the response, optionally indicating preferences.
Accept-Languageuses · Accept-Language is an HTTP request header that communicates the natural languages or language variants preferred or accepted by a client.
controllerused by · A controller is a software component or architectural role that receives inputs or requests and coordinates their handling by other parts of an application.
operationused by · An operation is an action or computation performed by or through a system, object, or interface, often producing a result or effect.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.